Promachos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CountryAncient Greece
TypeFront-rank soldier in a phalanx
| Promachos | |
|---|---|
| πρόμαχος | |
 Promachos in a Greek phalanx | |
| Country | Ancient Greece |
| Type | Front-rank soldier in a phalanx |
In ancient Greece and during the Byzantine era, the Promachoi (singular: Promachos; Greek: πρόμαχος) were the men fighting in the first rank of the phalanx.[1][2] The word can also be used as an adjective as in "promachos line"[3] referring to the first line of battle.
The first use of the word is recorded in Homer's Iliad.[4][5] An obsolete English literal translation of promachos is forefighter, in Dutch voorvechter.