Promachos

In ancient Greece and during the Byzantine era, the Promachoi (singular: Promachos; Greek: πρόμαχος) were the men fighting in the first rank of the phalanx.[1][2] The word can also be used as an adjective as in "promachos line"[3] referring to the first line of battle. It may also refer to Athena Promachos, the famous bronze statue by Phidias that towered over the Parthenon.

The first use of the word is recorded in Homer's Iliad[4]. An obsolete English literal translation of promachos is forefighter, in Dutch voorvechter.

References
  1. Perseus Project - Greek Word Study Tool (πρόμαχος).
  2. Sylloge Tacticorum, 45.15
  3. Leo VI. Tactica, 12.43
  4. Homer Iliad, Ξ.82
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