Shield bearer usually refers to a Macedonian version of a heavy armored
hoplite, whose tasks were protecting flanks of the sarrisa
phalanx, and carrying a shield to protect other men in same ranks. A commander might be protected by several shield bearers. In combat, the shield bearers served as core of Macedonian army along with
sarissa pike men, usually protecting flanks of the pike infantry. Other types of soldiers that made use of shield bearers included
archers,
crossbow
A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fir ...
men, and early
handgunners.
Military units and formations of antiquity
Ancient Greek infantry types
{{Mil-hist-stub