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Immortals
In his description of the battle of Thermopylae (480 B.C.), the Greek researcher Herodotus mentions a Persian elite corps which he calls the Ten Thousand or the Athanatoi, the 'Immortals'. He describes them as
"A body
of picked Persians under the leadership of Hydarnes, the son of Hydarnes. This
corps was known as the Immortals, because it was invariably kept up to strength;
if a man was killed or fell sick, the vacancy he left was at once filled, so
that the total strength of the corps was never less -and never more- than ten
thousand.
Of all the troops in Persian army, the native Persians were not only the best
but also the most magnificently equipped; their dress and armor I have mentioned
already, but I should add that every man glittered with the gold which he
carried about his person in unlimited quantity. They were accompanied, moreover,
by covered carriages full of their women and servants, all elaborately fitted
out. Special food, separate from that of the rest of the army, was brought along
for them on camels and mules." (Histories 7.83; tr. Aubrey de Selincourt)
As he indicates, Herodotus has already mentioned the Persian equipment:
"The dress of these troops consisted of the tiara, or soft felt cap, embroidered tunic with sleeves, a coat of mail looking like the scales of a fish, and trousers; for arms they carried light wicker shields, quivers slung below them, short spears, powerful bows with cane arrows, and daggers swinging from belts beside the right thigh." (Histories 7.61; tr. Aubrey de Selincourt)
We also learn from Herodotus that this elite corps played an important during the Battle of Thermopylae. The Greeks had blocked a narrow road along the coast and prevented the Persians from invading Greece. However, the Immortals made a detour and were able to attack the Greeks in the rear. They are also mentioned during the second year of the war, in 479 B.C., when they remain in Greece in the army of the Persian commander Mardonius.
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