Greek and Other Aegean Mercenaries in the Archaic Age: Aristocrats, Common People, or Both?

Abstract

Two issues regarding the social status of Archaic Greek (and other Aegean) mercenaries are discussed. The historiographical issue consists in exploring the reasons why the image of a limited participation restricted to the elites has until recently prevailed. The influence of social anthropology, which contributed to the development of a series of conceptual automatisms, is seen as the main cause for the emergence of the elitist thesis. The historical and anthropological issue consists in a summary re -evaluation of the most appropriate and persuasive sources that provide clues for the broader social participation in mercenary activities.

Keywords

• Mercenaries
• Archaic Greece
• elites
• social anthropology
• warfare
• conceptual automatism