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Greek colonies employed mercenaries rather than the other way around. But Greek mercenaries were quite popular in Greece proper (between city-states) and around
by Bayart 5y ago
Greek colonies employed mercenaries rather than the other way around. But Greek mercenaries were quite popular in Greece proper (between city-states) and around it. Egyptians and Persians used them extensively. One of the famous stories of the ancient world (you can find it in the Anabasis) is that of the Ten Thousand : an army of Greek soldiers left stranded in Persian territory after their Persian employer, Cyrus the Younger, died in battle.
- w0de0 5y agoThe context of the Anabasis, it always seemed to me, was that Greek hoplites had just finished whooping a massive Persian invasion - and the whole near east took notice of such highly effective heavy infantry.