Suggestion: Change the SpecificName of the Scythian Archers

[Vantha]

Currently the Scythian Archer's SpecificName is just a word for word translation into Greek:

Toxótēs (archer) Skythikós (Scythian)

 

I have done a lot of research about the Scythian Archers for the encyclopedia and I couldn't find any sources backing up this name (if you search it on Google, literally all results will be related to 0ad)
And yes, I am aware that for most units the SpecificName is just a direct word by word translation of the Generic name. But if there is another name backed up by historical evidence, why not use that one?

That's why I suggest to rename them to Speusinioi (that's plural, singular is Speusinos?). The Scythian archers are in several pieces of ancient Greek literature called Speusinioi, named after a certain Speusinos or Speusis, the person who allegedly established the Scythian Archer force in Athens.

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

Intriguing. If that's the case, then I'd support the name change. Can you post the refs?

[Vantha]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythian_archers:

The Scythian archers were called toxotai (τοξόται, literally "[the] archers"), Skythai (Σκύθαι, literally "[the] Scythians"), and Speusinioi (Σπευσίνιοι), which was named after a certain Speusinos, the alleged founder of the force.

 

https://www.thecollector.com/scythian-archers-ancient-athens/:

Much later in the 2nd century CE, the Greek scholar Julius Pollux wrote:        

“Those public slaves before the law course and other gatherings, to whom they gave the task of restraining those who behaved inappropriately and those who said what should not be said, were called “Scythians” and “archers” and “Speusinioi” after the man who organized their service.     (Julius Pollux 8.131-2)    

Of the politician Speusis, nothing is known, though the name is corroborated by the (undated and unnamed) scholiast for Aristophanes’ play The Acharnians:        

“The Archers are public slaves, guards of the city, 1,000 in number, who first dwelt in tents pitched in the middle of the agora, but then moved to the Areopagus. These were called “Scythians” and “Peusinoi”. A certain Peusis – one of the Politicians of old – having organized their activities.”     (Scholiast On Aristophanes, Acharnians 54)

 

/https://www.stoa.org/demos/article_scythian_archers@page=all&greekEncoding=UnicodeC.html:

Archers: The public slaves, guards of the city, in number 1000, who formerly lived in the Agora, camping out in the middle, but later moved to the Areopagus. These were called ‘Scythians’ and ‘Speusinioi,’ from a certain Speusinos, one of the ancient politicians, who organized their affairs” (Τοξόται· οἱ δημόσιοι ὑπηρέται, φύλακες τοῦ ἄστεος, τὸν ἀριθμὸν χίλιοι, οἵτινες πρότερον μὲν ᾤκουν τὴν ἀγορὰν μέσην σκηνοποιησάμενοι, ὕστερον δὲ μετέβησαν εἰς Ἄρειον Πάγον, ἐκαλοῦντο δὲ οὗτοι καὶ Σκύθαι καὶ Σπευσίνιοι; ἀπὸ Σπευσίνου τινὸς τῶν πάλαι πολιτευομένων συντάξαντος τὰ περὶ αὐτούς) (Suda tau,772; see also Schol. In Aristoph. Ach. 54, which is almost identical except for saying “Peusinioi” and “Peusinus” instead of “Speuninioi” (That's a typo, it should be “Speusinioi”) and “Speusinos”; also Hescythius, 1137; Schol. In Aristoph. Ach. 54; Schol. In Aristoph. Ach. 707; Schol. In Aristoph. Lys. 184; Suda omega,243; Suda tau,771).

Edited September 28, 2023 by Vantha

[Vantha]

"It is doubtful that the Scythians were equipped with bows in the narrow and crowded streets of Athens. Moreover, both the terms “Scythians” and “archers” might have been generic labels for any exotic foreigners. Referring to any, as the Greeks called them, “barbaroi” (meaning exactly what it sounds like), not necessarily to actual Scythians or archers. Therefore, the Scythian Archers might very well neither have actually been Scythians nor archers."  (part of my text for the encyclopedia about Scythian archers)

Since they maybe were neither Scythians nor archers, it seems unlikely that the Speusinioi were called actually called 'Toxótēs (archer) Skythikós (Scythian)'. "Both the terms “Scythians” and “archers” might have been generic labels for any exotic foreigners."  They were (besides 'Speusinioi') either called 'the archers' (meaning 'the barbarians') or 'the Scythians' (also meaning 'the barbarians') but probably not both, as that would mean 'barbaric barbarians'.

Edited October 2, 2023 by Vantha

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

It's possible to me that the group was multi-ethnic, but wore Phrygian-Scythian caps for easy identification. 

[Vantha]

Could be. They were depicted on pottery dressed the traditional Scythian way. Maybe Scythian clothing, especially the hat, was their "police uniform".

[wowgetoffyourcellphone]

2 hours ago, Vantha said:

Could be. They were depicted on pottery dressed the traditional Scythian way. Maybe Scythian clothing, especially the hat, was their "police uniform".

Right. My guess given the information provided.