Bronze Age Greek Civilians - Mule Train

 

Here are some Bronze Age Greek civilians in a mule train. Figures are all by Eureka Miniatures from their Bronze Age Greeks range. These are really handy figures for baggage and camps. They can obviously be used well in to the Iron Age as well. There is a comparison shot at the bottom with the Castaway Arts baggage mules.

Hebrew Spearmen and Archers

 

Here are some Hebrew spearmen and archers that I've just finished painting. Most are Newline Designs figures with four Castaway Arts figures in the front rank of the spearmen. I now have enough painted figures for a Chariots Rampant game with the Hebrews versus Philistines and Midianite allies so will try a solo game of that soon.

Philistine Spearmen and Archers

 

Here are some Philistine spearmen that I’ve just finished painting. Figures are a mix of Castaway Arts, Foundry, Northstar and Old Glory. The archers I painted some time ago but need a few more to bring them up to strength, so will paint the eyes and touch them up to match the spearmen.

Hebrew Gibborim

 

Above are some Hebrew Gibborim 'mighty men', these were the elite infantry of the Hebrew/Israelite army, originally the personal retinue of David in his time as a Philistine mercenary. The figures are a mix of Castaway Arts and Newline Designs. Below the Ark of the Covenant receives an escort of chariots and Gibborim. The slingers at the bottom are Syrian/Canaanite figures by Foundry which could certainly pass muster in an early Hebrew army. 

Ark of the Covenant and Hebrew Chariots

 

Here's the Ark of the Covenant and two Hebrew chariots that I've just finished painting. All the figures are by Castaway Arts except for the crew and chariot with barded horses which are by Newline Designs. The David and Goliath figures are also by Castaway but I painted them years ago. I'll use the Ark as a sacred camp for my Hebrew/Israelite army. I have some elite Gibborim 'mighty men' and some Philistine/Pelset spearmen based and undercoated as well. The initial aim is for small forces for both sides.

Sumerian Spearmen of Lagash

 

Here are some Sumerian spearmen of Lagash, that date to c.2500 BC, a mix of figures from Eureka, Castaway Arts and Warlord/Cutting Edge. The appearance of these is based on the Vulture Stele, see the article, photos and line drawings of this on the Sumerian Shakespeare website. The spearmen of Ur with their distinctive capes with copper discs are based on the Standard of Ur and date to c.2600 BC. According to the Stillman & Tallis WRG book, Armies and Enemies of the Ancient Near East 3,000 BC to 539 BC 'the large, flat rectangular Sumerian shield, first illustrated on the 'Vulture Stela', probably hastened the abandonment of the protective cape. Made of dyed oxhide and having nine (not six as often stated) round, copper bosses on its face, each shield is shown as being carried by a special shieldbearer standing to the left of each spearman on the stela' (p.122 ). 

I have my Lagash units based with shield bearers in the front rank with rear ranks of spearmen, their spears projecting over the shield bearers. Interpretations of their appearance and how they fought are tricky, a lot of figure manufacturers have spearmen with capes, spear and shield and others with spear and shield. Some have six bosses rather than nine on the shields (Museum Miniatures and CP Models). There are a lot of nice Sumerian ranges available now with 15mm (Chariot Miniatures, Essex Miniatures, Eureka Miniatures and Museum Miniatures) and 28mm ( Wargames Foundry, Warlord/Cutting Edge, CP Models, Eureka Miniatures and Newline Designs). Interestingly the Museum Miniatures 15mm range, and the CP Models 28mm range are the same figures, by the Z sculptor but different scales.

Sea Peoples

 

Shaasu or Shosu Bedoiun skirmishers

Teresh Warriors and Sheklesh Warriors

Here are some Sea Peoples from the archives - quite a mix of tribes and figure ranges (although the identity and appearance of some tribes is not really known for certain). The Shosu skirmishers are a mix of Wargames Foundry and Cutting Edge/Warlord Games. The Teresh and Sheklesh warriors are a mix of Wargames Foundry and Northstar Miniatures. The Lukka and Pelset Warriors are all Wargames Foundry and the Pelset crew with ox cart and donkeys are a mix of Newline Designs and Castaway Arts.

Lukka and Pelset Warriors

Pelset crew with ox cart and donkeys

Sumerian Battle-Cars

 

Here's a post from the archives today, some Sumerian Battle-Cars, these are all Castaway Arts figures.

Sumerian Spearmen of Ur

 

Here's another post from the archives, a unit of Sumerian spearmen with copper studded cloaks as depicted in the Standard of Ur. The figures are a mix of Castaway Arts, Wargames Foundry and Cutting Edge Miniatures/Warlord Games.