The antagonism between the Perisan and the Greek colonies on the Ionian coast of Asia Minor began with Cyrus I and continued for some 200 years until the Empire was destroyed by Alexander's Macedonians. The Persian armies of this period also fielded troops in countries as far apart as India, Egypt, southern Russia and the Balkans and were undoubtedly the largest and most colourful the world has yet seen. In this volume the arms, equipment and organization of these forces is illustrated and documented.