Subject: 'immortal'

Culture: Persian/Iranian

Setting: Achaemenid empire, Persia 6-4thc BC

Event Photos

* Dougherty 2010 p48

"Within the army, regiments such as the Immortals were a prestige posting. The name 'Immortals' refers not to the longevity of the personnel in the unit -- casualties in battle tended to be high -- but to the fact that the regiment was kept up to strength by transfers from other units. The Immortals were paid regularly and given other privileges, such as being allowed to bring their wives and concubines on campaign with them, ensuring that service in the regiment was eagerly sought after."

* Dougherty 2010 p47 caption

"The Immortals were given many privileges, such as being permitted to bring their wives on campaign, in order to ensure there was no shortage of recruits to fill the ranks. As with other elite forces throughout history, the Immortals enjoyed high morale and were a formidable fighting force."

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources

Field Notes