The infantry consisted of Libyan-Phoenicians, people, moulded as a result of Libyan land colonization by Phoenicians, was the basis of Carthaginian army. Libyan-Phoenician infantry was armed after the Hellenistic pattern. The heavy infantry wore muscular cuirasses, chain armors, helmets of Greek Hellenistic type, often with a crest without horsehair, and Greek round shields. Spears and swords were the armament of the heavy infantry. Warriors of the light infantry wore ordinary togas without belts, oval Roman shields and were armed with javelins and swords. On Crete Island the Carthage army recruited qualified slingers defeating the enemy at the distance of 120-160 steps. |
