 The
stone reliefs at Susa and Persepolis show Persian and Median guards and
officials. These guards were the full time soldiers that performed a number
of roles within the Achaemenid empire, including:
- Body guards to the King or high ranking officials.
- Assigned to guard the various palaces.
- Satrapal guards in garrison duty in the various parts of the empire.
- Guarding or escorting transports of gold or valuables.
- Both infantry and mounted regiments.
The elaborate Persian robes is thought to a stylised formal dress or national
dress but different from that worn in battle. The standard campaign dress
is believed to be the more practical Median outfit. Persian guards are shown
wearing the fluted Persian cap which protrays them as Persian nobles. They
wear gold armlets and necklaces and carry the Persian style quiver on the
shoulder, the short spear and bow and some carry the characteristically
Persian "violin" shield.
Herodotus described Xerxes force in 479 BC that left Sardis on its way
to Greece.
" In front of the king went first a thousand horsemen, picked men
of the Persian nation- then spearmen a thousand, likewise chosen troops,
with their spearheads pointing towards the ground "...
" Immediately behind the king there followed a body of a thousand
spearmen, the noblest and bravest of the Persians, holding their lances
in the usual manner- then came a thousand Persian horse, picked men.."
"The spearmen too who pointed their lances towards the ground had
golden pomegranates; and the thousand Persians who followed close after
Xerxes had golden apples."
Xerxes' immortals and guard infantry and cavalry, were physically separated
from the rest of the army and were the only troops according to Herodotus,
that marched in formation.
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