Phylakitai

Gennadios, the Phylakitai in Alexandria during the 1st century BCE

The Phylakitai was an ancient Egyptian paramilitary police force that operated throughout the kingdom. They were charged with maintaining order, enforcing the pharaoh's laws, and fighting bandits and foreign invaders. During the reign of Ptolemy XIII, in the late 1st century BCE, the phylakitai were commanded by Gennadios in Alexandria, Epigonos in Karanis, and Sefetu in Sais.

Structure and Weapons

The phylakitai were a mixed organization; most of its membership were ethnic Egyptians while Greeks held key leadership posts. Phylakitai usually dressed in simple red-and-white tunics or shirts, wore no armor except for a small belt to protect the groin, and sometimes donned a head covering to shield against the sun. Archers were bare chested except for a cape over their shoulders, while swordsmen could be identified by their distinctive red hood. ^{[citation needed]}

Due to the ongoing civil war, most phylakitai served as both police and soldiers for Ptolemy's army. Those assigned to fight could be identified by their wearing of leather or chain-mail armor, metal helmets, and red tunics, with archers wearing a peaked or rounded helmet. Phylakitai captains could be distinguished by their blue tunics and crested helmets, and commanders usually wore a long cape, plumed helmet, and various pieces of elaborately fashioned ornamental armor. ^{[citation needed]}

Most phylakitai were trained to use either short swords or spears, and sometimes carried a metal or wooden shield to block attacks. As the bow was traditionally favored as the primary weapon of the Egyptian military, all phylakitai were trained in archery; most carried a bow to shoot at fleeing or hard-to-reach enemies. Some phylakitai coated their arrowheads with oil so they could light them on fire and burn anything they hit. Others used a mixture of explosive powder and minerals to create a disorienting cloud that temporarily blinded enemies. ^{[citation needed]}

Phylakitai of higher ranks used deadlier weapons; swordsmen carried a pair of matching swords, captains preferred to use a spiked club, and commanders used a great sword or axe. Unlike other enemies, they also favored the use of the javelin for ranged combat, and were far most adept in using their shields than low-ranking phylakitai. ^{[citation needed]}

Phylakitai usually operated from camps, forts, and barracks throughout the kingdom, many of which were situated near roads and settlements. Horses were utilized for normal patrols, military escorts, and the transportation of goods. Chariots could also be seen leading patrols or supply caravans. The phylakitai, despite their diverse origins, were known for a fierce sense of solidarity; if any of the phylakes saw another being attacked or abused, he would rush to his aid regardless of any threat to his own life. ^{[citation needed]}

History

Existing since the establishment of the Ptolemaic dynasty, the phylakitai were intended to promote unity and order across Egypt, especially in the more rural regions, such as Siwa, that were far from Alexandria. Yet for most Egyptians, they instead represented the unchecked corruption of the pharaoh's court; with no oversight or accountability, the phylakitai were free to commit all sorts of abuses and criminal acts in the course of their duties. They collected heavy taxes, imprisoned "enemies" of the kingdom unjustly, killed without mercy, and burned whole villages to the ground just to set an example. ^{[citation needed]}

The situation only worsened with the onset of the civil war between Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra. The phylakitai were granted additional powers by pharaonic decree to hunt down Cleopatra's soldiers and sympathizers as part of a wider conspiracy by the Order of the Ancients to transform Egypt into a new nation ruled by the power contained within the Temple of Amun. The Medjay Bayek of Siwa dealt with many phylakitai as he set out to take revenge on the Order's leader Gaius Julius Rufio for the death of his son Khemu. ^{[citation needed]}

Trivia

• Like "phylakes", phylakitai is from the plural of Ancient Greek φύλαξ (phylax), meaning 'watcher, guard, sentinel'. Despite this, in-game, phylakitai is used in both singular and plural contexts.
• Historical evidence suggests that while the term "phylakitai" was used to refer to police officers appointed to investigate crimes and maintain order in Ptolemaic-era Egypt, the game's portrayal of the phylakitai as an armed paramilitary force with near-unchecked authority is dubious at best. In fact, the justice system of the Ptolemaic pharaohs was considered more accessible than that of many other ancient societies of the time.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Origins (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed Roleplaying Game