Description
These fierce warriors hailed from northwest Asia Minor and, as their lands changed hands between Greek and Persian rulers, they were subject to many influences. In battle they used the crescent-shaped 'pelte' shields of the Thracians, but eastern axes instead of forward-curving swords or 'rhomphaia'. This made them deadly against heavily-armoured foes as their axes could crush organs and break bones without necessarily penetrating armour. The Bithynians wore light armour for the most part, and also carried javelins, much like peltasts. Their style of fighting probably owed much to the mountainous and difficult terrain of Bithynia, as they were, in part, skirmishers and also similar to the thorakitai, or heavier warriors.
