Knossos Melee Ship

Trieres - Kretai Toxotai

A trireme is a 37 meter long oared warship (galley) with three decks of oars, developed from the bireme in the 5th century BCE. Popular with Carthaginian, Greek and Roman navies, this is the main warship of the classical age.

(Cretan Archers)

As elite archers from the island of Knossos, the ancestors of these famed bowmen once served in the all-conquering army of Alexander the Great.

Of all the warships found in the ancient world, it is the trireme, or trieres, that remains the most famous and recognisable. Nearly all Hollywood 'sword and sandal' movies will include a trireme somewhere. The vessel was entirely designed for war. Its name came from the three rows of oars carried on each side, stacked above each other in staggered columns to give the rowers some room to work. The top row of oars pivoted on a rowlock, or oarlock, mounted on an outrigger projecting from the hull. This allowed the top oars to pitch down at a sharper angle to reach the sea without getting tangled in the lower ones. The trireme was a greyhound of a ship, capable of high-speed dashes with a well-trained crew and, contrary to popular belief, not all rowers were slaves. Aboard Greek vessels they were citizens, and were given respect, not the lash. They were also largely fair-weather ships, and unsuited to rough seas such as the Atlantic; the lowest level of oars were, at most, less than half a metre above the waterline. That, however, did not stop the trireme being a superb weapon against other ships: a high-speed ramming attack could rip a hole in the side of almost any target. The type was also large enough to be used in other ways, which lead to it carrying archers and assorted light artillery pieces.

(Kretai Toxotai)
Although archery was not highly thought of as a military skill in Greece, Crete produced truly excellent archers who were able to sell their services to the highest bidder as mercenaries. Firing bronze-tipped arrows from their heavy self bows, Cretan archers tended to carry shields, indicative of some additional prowess in melee, which must’ve made them an even more enticing proposition for a general hiring mercenaries for campaign. Their finest hours came when Alexander the Great hired Cretans directly into his army to support its unbeatable phalanx. Commanded by Clearchus, 500 Cretans accompanied the Macedonian phalanx into battle at Granicus, off-setting the Persians' numerical superiority on the day and enabling Alexander’s subsequent victory. Whereas the Romans didn’t traditionally use archers in their forces, once they conquered Greece Cretan archers began to appear as auxiliary troops in their armies. Notably, they fought in Caesar’s campaign in Gaul against Vercingetorix, causing him to rally the best archers the tribes could provide to range against them.

Abilities

Trieres

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Kretai Toxotai

• Stamina (excellent)
  Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.

Attributes

• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Trieres

• Poor hull strength
• Light crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Poor boarding
• Average missile combat

Kretai Toxotai

• Long range
• Fast rate of fire
• Good damage but low armour penetration
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

Knossos Units
General (7)
1.Kretai Hippeis
2.Kretai Hoplitai
3.Hypaspistai
4.Thorakitai Hoplitai
5.Thorakitai
6.Thorakitai Doriphoroi
7.Thureophoroi Machairaphoroi
Melee Infantry (59)
8.Machairaphoroi
9.Okhlos
10.Thorakitai
11.Thureophoroi Machairaphoroi
12.Pictone Neitos
13.Sikeliotai Pezoi
14.Pezoi Brettioi
15.Keltohellenikoi Thorakitai
16.Clona Tekonac
17.Milites Ilergetum
18.Loricati Scutarii
19.Scutarii
20.Dorkim Lybim Kbedim
21.Dorkim Lybim
22.Aithiopikoi Pelekuphoroi
23.Eklektoi Aithiopikoi
24.Mistophoroi Kushitoi
25.Corio Runo
26.Calawre
27.Silurae Birnai
28.Tabargan Suguda
29.Skythioi Pezoi
30.Thrakioi Rhomphaiaphoroi
31.Phrygioi Sagarisphoroi
32.Bataroas
33.Cladio Argos
34.Catuiros Calgo
35.Curoas
36.Catuiros Calgo
37.Kilikioi Haploi
38.Kares Pezoi
39.Skiritai Machairaphoroi
40.Dardanioi Sicaphoroi
41.Illyrioi Grosphomachoi
42.Agrianoi Pelekophoroi
43.Cordinau Orca
44.Galathraikes
45.Thrakioi Pezoi
46.Thyni Rhomphaiaphoroi
47.Daki Drepanephoroi
48.Mishteret Izrahim
49.Dreugulozez Brunjadoi
50.Herunautoz
51.Herunautoz
52.Kartveli Dashnit Meombrebi
53.Kartvelebi Dashna-Mebrdzolebi
54.Kluddacorii
55.Raumarici Slaganz Frijaz
56.Suiones Herunautoz Frijaz
57.Apulii Extraordinarii
58.Ensiferi Italici Reformati
59.Ensiferi Italici
60.Taurisci Securiferi
61.Epibatoi
62.Supply Crew
63.Local Armed Townsfolk
64.Local Townsfolk
65.Local Citizens
66.Greek Citizens
Missile Infantry (65)
67.Psiloi Toxotai
68.Kretai Toxotai
69.Psiloi Akontistai
70.Euzonoi
71.Peltastai
72.Psiloi Sphendonetai
73.Balroae
74.Gastraphetes
75.Kestrosphendones
76.Sikelioi Sphendonetai
77.Aichmetai Leukanoi
78.Clona Gosnasio
79.Iberi Funditores
80.Mitnag'him Numidim
81.Qala'im Numidim
82.Mitnagsim Lybim
83.Mitnagsim Lybim
84.Qala'im Garamantim
85.Machimoi Toxotai
86.Blemmyai Toxotai
87.Meroi Toxotai
88.Aithiopikoi Toxotai
89.Ioudaioi Sphendonetai
90.Corio Telamon
91.Toxotai Syriakoi
92.Thanvare Madaen
93.Peltastai Indohellenikoi
94.Thanvare Payahdag
95.Armenikoi Toxotai
96.Thanvare Suguda
97.Zubindar-i Suguda
98.Skythioi Toxotai
99.Paya Hinam Dunai Purma
100.Skythioi Toxotai
101.Skythioi Kataikoi Toxotai
102.Skythioi Peltastai
103.Thrakioi Basilikoi Peltastai
104.Thrakioi Peltastai
105.Pontikoi Toxotai
106.Aeudi Gaeroas
107.Kilikioi Peltastai
108.Mysoi Sphendonetai
109.Kretai Toxotai
110.Skiritai Peltastai
111.Macedonikoi Euzonoi
112.Agrianoi Peltastai
113.Maedi Peltastai
114.Thrakioi Peltastai
115.Sotaroas Argos
116.Pelliti Velites
117.Kasatim Shardanim
118.Baleares Funditores
119.Rhodioi Sphendonetai
120.Sauromatae Fistaeg Fat Aexsdzhytae
121.Skutjanz
122.Skutjanz
123.Kovkasi Lernain Netadzik
124.Sitones Swajut Frijaz
125.Gaeroas Liguriae
126.Epibatoi Toxotai
127.Kretai Toxotai
128.Local Bowmen
129.Local Archers
130.Local Slingers
131.Greek Archers
Hoplite/Pike Infantry (30)
132.Epilektoi Hoplitai
133.Kretai Hoplitai
134.Kretai Ekdromoi Hoplitai
135.Epistratoi Hoplitai
136.Kretai Phalangitai
137.Thorakitai Hoplitai
138.Massaloi Hoplitai
139.Massaloi Thorakitai Hoplitai
140.Shipri Tukul
141.Skythioi Hoplitai
142.Chalyboi Doryphoroi
143.Kypros Ekdromoi Hoplitai
144.Erin-mesh Uriki
145.Ephesoi Phalangitai
146.Athenai Hoplitai
147.Athenai Thorakitai Hoplitai
148.Korinthoi Epistratoi Hoplitai
149.Korinthoi Ekdromoi Hoplitai
150.Spartiatai Hoplitai
151.Spartiatai Thorakitai Hoplitai
152.Thessalikoi Epistratoi Hoplitai
153.Thessalikoi Ekdromoi Hoplitai
154.Macedonikoi Phalangitai
155.Illyrioi Hoplitai
156.Tarantinoi Ekdromoi Hoplitai
157.Tarantinoi Leukaspidai
158.Kampanioi Hoplitai
159.Leukanoi Hoplitai
160.Greek Militia
161.Greek Hoplites
Spear Infantry (63)
162.Kretai Haploi
163.Thorakitai Doriphoroi
164.Thureophoroi
165.Pictone Lugoae
166.Sikeliotai Pantodapoi
167.Sikelioi Milites
168.Lugoae Vocontae
169.Massaloi Pantodapoi
170.Gestikapoinann
171.Scortamareva
172.Iberi Milites
173.Mishteret Lybim
174.Mishteret Lybim
175.Dorkim Garamantim
176.Machimoi
177.Hanatim Kushim
178.Meroi Aichmetai
179.Ioudaioi Taxeis
180.Judaioi Thureophoroi
181.Arabioi Katadromeis
182.Erinamesh Ana-Arabim
183.Pantodapoi Syriakoi
184.Gund-i Madaen
185.Thureophoroi Indohellenikoi
186.Gund-i Palta
187.Gund-i Nizagan
188.Armenikoi Epistratoi Doriphoroi
189.Baktrioi Pantodapoi
190.Roxolanoi Haploi
191.Albanoi Doryphoroi
192.Pontikoi Haploi
193.Aeudi Lugoae
194.Gaelaiche
195.Galatai Lugoae
196.Kappadokioi Haploi
197.Galatai Lugoae
198.Phrygioi Pantodapoi
199.Kretai Haploi
200.Korinthoi Thureophoroi
201.Thessalikoi Thureophoroi
202.Illyrioi Thureophoroi
203.Krobyzoi Thureophoroi
204.Daki Epistratoi Doryphoroi
205.Eburonae Lugoae
206.Batacorii
207.Dorkim Shardanim
208.Baleares Milites
209.Voinu
210.Tarantinoi Pantodapoi
211.Tarantinoi Thureophoroi
212.Gaizoz Frije
213.Gaizoz Frije
214.Kavakaza Sparabara
215.Noricene Lugoae
216.Appea Gaedotos
217.Suiones Druhtiz Frijaz
218.Lugoae Liguriae
219.Gaemile Liguriae
220.Italici Milites
221.Mamertinoi Doryphoroi
222.Local Tribesmen
223.Local Militia
224.Local Town Guard
Melee Cavalry (19)
225.Kretai Hippeis
226.Vocontae Epos
227.Ambakaro Epones
228.Curisi
229.Machimoi Hippeis
230.Aithiopikoi Hippakontistai
231.Myrcharn
232.Taxilan Agema
233.Kamboja Asvaka Ksatriya
234.Leuce Epos
235.Galatai Epos
236.Galatai Epos
237.Remi Mairepos
238.Reidonez
239.Gautoz Ridanz Frijaz
240.Liguriae Epos
241.Equites Campaniae
242.Baggage Train
243.Greek Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (15)
244.Hippakontistai
245.Tarantinoi Hippeis
246.Thureophoroi Hippeis
247.Parasim Numidim
248.Parasim Lebiponnim
249.Ana-Arabim Kamelarios
250.Shivatir-i Pahlavanig
251.Savar-i Suguda
252.Jamsya Yukhuna Duna Purma
253.Skythioi Hippotoxotai
254.Skythioi Hippotoxotai
255.Paphlagonikoi Hippeis
256.Illyrioi Hippeis
257.Sauromatae Fat Aexsdzhytae
258.Tarantinoi Hippeis
Shock Cavalry (9)
259.Xystophoroi
260.Yancai Uaezdaettae
261.Khuveshavagan
262.Asavaran-i Zrehbaran
263.Roxolanoi Xistophoroi
264.Kappadokioi Xistophoroi
265.Kappadokioi Xistophoroi
266.Hippeis Thessalikoi
267.Sauromatae Uaezdaettae
Elephant (5)
268.Elephantes Hulaioi Liboukoi
269.Elephantes Hulaioi Liboukoi
270.Elephantes Syriakoi
271.Elephantes Indikoi
272.Elephantes Indikoi
Fixed Artillery (3)
273.Polybolos
274.Oxybeles (Fixed)
275.Oxybeles (Bastion)
Field Artillery (3)
276.Lithobolos
277.Lithobolos (Bastion)
278.Oxybeles
Special (7)
279.Malhamit Kalb
280.Corio Cunos Vidios
281.Kappadokioi Kyon
282.Molossoi Kyon
283.Vadasz Spako
284.Jagon Hund
285.Canes Bellici
Admiral (2)
286.Scorpion Trieres - Epibatoi Toxotai
287.Tower Penteres - Epibatoi
Melee Ship (6)
288.Assault Dieres - Epibatoi
289.Tower Penteres - Epibatoi
290.Assault Tetreres - Epibatoi
291.Trieres - Epibatoi
292.Fire Pot Dieres - Epibatoi
293.Trieres - Kretai Toxotai
Missile Ship (5)
294.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Epibatoi Toxotai
295.Raiding Hemiolia - Epibatoi Toxotai
296.Scorpion Trieres - Epibatoi Toxotai
297.Raiding Hemiolia - Kretai Toxotai
298.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Kretai Toxotai
Artillery Ship (1)
299.Light Artillery Penteres - Lithobolos (Ship)
Transport Ship (1)
300.Supply Ship - Supply Crew