Gymnitai

In Ancient Greek armies, the ''psiloi'' (Ancient Greek , singular ψιλός, ''psilos'', literally "bare, stripped") were the light infantry who usually acted as skirmishers and missile troops, and who were distinguished from the armored '' hoplitai'' (heavy infantry) by their light weapons and lack of armor.

In Classical Antiquity and Late Antiquity and throughout the existence of the Byzantine Empire, the lightest-armed troops, typically equipped with ranged weapons, and which fought irregularly in a loose formation, were deemed 'the ''psiloi. Numbered among the ''psiloi'' were archers, the ''toxotai'' armed with a bow (''toxa''), and slingers, the (''sphendonetai'') who hurled stones or metal bullets with slings (''sfendonai''). Others, the ''akontistai'', used the throwing javelin (''akontia''). Some ''psiloi'' simply threw stones at the enemy and were referred to as ''lithoboloi''.

The ''psiloi'' were the least prestigious military class deployed by the ancient world. A member of the ''psiloi'' was normally a man or boy from the lower ranks of his society, unable to afford the shield and armor of the ''hoplites'', let alone the horse ridden by the socially elite cavalryman, the ''hippeus'' (). Another term for a member of the ''psiloi'' was ''gymnetes'', () literally: "naked". Light infantry might also be called ''euzonoi'' ("active", "light armored"; a name shared with modern Evzones), though these might be any troops lightly armed, such as ''hoplitai'' deployed without their shields, who would not rank as ''psiloi''. The ''peltastai'' (bearers of light shields, targeteers) were an intermediate infantry class, better armored than the ''psiloi'' but more lightly equipped than the ''hoplitai'' - the heavy infantry armed to fight at close quarters in the phalanx.

Ancient Greece

In ancient Greece, the ''psiloi'' belonged to the poorest citizen classes; sometimes even unfree conscripts would be employed, such as the Peloponnesian helots. They were armed with a variety of missile weapons and might have a dagger or short sword.

The psiloi fought as skirmishers. Their task was to harass the enemy phalanx before the clash, to try to provoke disorder and protect their own lines from enemy skirmishers. They would be sent to occupy imposing terrain around and within the battlefield, as well as to disrupt the enemy in any way during his march, deployment or encampment. Just before the charge of the line, the psiloi would be recalled through the phalanx and deployed behind it or on its wings. They would avoid close combat with more heavily armed opponents unless they had the advantage of especially favorable terrain.

''Psiloi'' could be used tactically, to constantly harass an enemy, unable to engage them. A famous engagement of ''psiloi'' against ''hoplitai'' was in the Battle of Sphacteria, in which the Athenian ''psiloi'' helped defeat a force of Spartan ''hoplitai'', with powerful ramifications for the military reputation of the Spartans.

Roman Empire

''Grosphomachoi'' is the Greek term used by Polybius to describe the Roman Republic's youngest and lowest class of citizen soldiers in the Roman army, the ''velites''. The ''grosphomachos'' – the Roman ''veles'' – was equipped with javelins Polybius calls ''grosphoi'' and which in Latin were termed '' veruta''. These were short, light weapons whose long metal points were designed to bend to prevent re-use by the enemy once thrown. They were deployed as skirmishers in front of the heavier infantry of the legion. ''Velites'' were used against the Carthaginians' war elephants in the Punic Wars. Polybius describes the typical ''veles'' as having a helmet and ''parma'', a small round shield.Polybius, I.33.9, VI.21.7, VI.22.4.

Greek language military treatises of Late Antique and later Byzantine periods of the Roman Empire call all light troops ''psiloi'', regardless of their defensive equipment. They were used as skirmishers, but they were often deployed in regular lines behind or among the heavy infantry ranks, usually equipped with bows.

Notes

Military units and formations of ancient Greece
Ancient Greek infantry types
Military units and formations of the Hellenistic world
Military units and formations of the Byzantine Empire