Peltast their ranks (to allow the Persian cavalry through) and proceeded to deal blows (with swords) and throw javelins at them as they went through. Xenophon's description makes it clear that these peltasts were armed with swords, as well as javelins, but not with spears. When faced with a charge from the Persian cavalry they opened their ranks and allowed the cavalry through while striking them with swords and hurling javelins at them. They became the main type of Greek mercenary infantry in the 4th century BCE. Their equipment was less expensive than that of traditional hoplites and would have been
Greek units of measurement Greek units of measurement A number of units of measurement were used in Greece to measure length, mass, area, and capacity. In Greece, the metric system has been used since 1836 and was made compulsory in 1922. One "piki" varied from 0.640 m to 0.670 m. 1 "pic" was equal to 1 piki. The "small piki" of Constantinople (also known as the "endeze") was equal to 0.648 m The "large piki" of Constantinople (also known as the "arsin") was equal to 0.669 m A masonry "piki" (also known as the "meimar zire") was equal to 0.750 m. Two types of