Takabara

{{Short description|Persian army unit}}

Takabara was a unit in the Persian Achaemenid army. They appear in some references related to the Greco-Persian wars, but little is known about them. According to Greek sources they were a tough type of peltasts.{{cite book|last=Sekunda |first=Nicholas |author-link=Nicholas Sekunda |title=The Persian army 560-330 BC |date=1992 |publisher=Osprey |location=London |isbn=978-1-85532-250-9 |series=Elite Series |page=30}} Takabara nevertheless were more garrison warriors than front line fighters as proved against the well-armed Hoplites of Greece where they were easily defeated in hand to hand conflict.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} They tended to fight with their own native weapons which would have included a crescent-shaped light wickerwork shield and a type of light-axe called the Sagaris as well as light linen cloth and leather. The Takabara were recruited from territories that incorporated modern Iraq and parts of Iran.