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Community and Camraderie

Reenactment isn’t just about donning a costume and adopting a character; it’s about stepping into another life, another world. Our members often camp in authentic tents and share meals, embodying the spirit of community and camaraderie that defined these societies. We participate in both public events, where we educate and entertain spectators, and immersive training and social get-togethers. These gatherings aim to recreate daily life in Greece and Persia in the 5th and 4th centuries BC, offering a truly immersive journey through time.

Art and craft

As a reenactor, you’re also an artisan. Members often make their own clothing and materials, adding a personal touch to their historical representation. We encourage you to learn new skills such as archery, wood, bone, leather, or metalwork, enhancing your reenactment experience while cultivating practical abilities. This shared knowledge and experience foster a rich learning environment within our community.

To help you embark on this thrilling journey, our site offers detailed guidelines to build up your kit. From simple civilian clothing to the intricate designs of armour and shields, we provide you with the resources you need to step confidently into your role.

The past is waiting for you. Seize the spear, don the helmet, and step into a world where history comes alive. The life of a hoplite, a Persian warrior, a Scythian archer, or a noble aristocrat awaits. The question is, are you ready to make history?

There’s a Greek Reenactment Group Near You (probably)

Greek reenactment is a thriving, global community filled with individuals passionate about reliving and understanding ancient history. With active groups spreading from the UK and Europe to North America and reaching as far as Australia, the spirit of ancient Greece is being echoed worldwide.

These groups, diverse in their membership but united in purpose, seek to recreate the ancient Greek experience. They form phalanxes, relive historical events, and immerse themselves in the practices of the ancients.

United Kingdom

The Hoplite Association (this site!) was formed in 2001 as the world’s first re-enactment society solely dedicated to recreating the life and experiences of the Classical Greek period. The benefits of being a dedicated group have enabled us to develop a wide variety of characters, activities and demonstrations for our historical displays, which we undertake at various sites across the country during the re-enactment season.

While the Hoplite Association exists primarily for the edification and enjoyment of both its members and the public, it is also grounded in the principles of interpretive archaeology. Through academic research, shared experience and the diverse array of trades and skills represented in the association, we have come to the forefront of understanding in the interpretation of all aspects of ancient Greek life and military activity during our period.

Comitatus re-creates Classical antiquity from the glory that was Greece to the grandeur that was Rome. We aim to bring something of the culture of the ancient Greeks to our shows, concentrating on the later 5th century and 4th century BC.

Our professional shows use a mixture of Greek sporting and military displays which are exciting and educational. We enjoy recreating equestrian skills from the past, and this makes us the only organisation in the world able to field ancient Greek cavalrymen, riding in the correct equipment without saddles or stirrups. As ever, our reconstructed artefacts are of the highest standard and are not just for show. We use them!

North America (East Coast)

The Greek Phalanx is a dynamic and fast-growning North American hoplite reenactment group focused on authenticity and public presentation. Based on the East Coast of the United States, their mission is to accurately portray the hoplite (man-at-arms) citizen soldiers of the Greek city states from the Archaic and Classical eras (c. 650-323 BCE). Their informal muster of veteran reenactors includes authors, historians, educators, curators, and craftsmen who all bring their specific expertise to the authentic presentation not just of the hoplite’s equipment and battlefield tactics, but also his culture.

Spain

Athenea Promakhos is a Spanish reenactement froup dedicated to recreating the towns of classical antiquity in the Mediterranean environment. Its main focus of interest is classical Greece, but it currently has sections dedicated to Rome, Macedonia, Carthage, Iberia and Celtiberia.

France

The Somatophylakes (from the ancient Greek σωματοφύλακες), meaning “Bodyguards,” is a Greek Reenactement group based in France. The term was originally used to designate victorious hoplites who protected the civic body of their city on the battlefield. It later became famous as it specifically referred to the close guards of the Macedonian Kings, primarily those of Alexander the Great. Today, as we focus our initial activities on experimenting with historical gestures and hoplite techniques, our association has in a way become the guardian of the memory of the ancient Somatophylakes, promoting their history through a dynamic and interactive approach called Living History.

Germany

The Hetairoi, meaning “companions” in Greek, is a registered association founded in 2005 in Germany with a mission to recreate and relive the life of people in ancient Greece from the late Archaic to the Hellenistic era. Although a hobby for its members, the group devotes significant time to research, always striving to adhere to the most recent scientific findings on ancient Greece. It also integrates historical impressions from Thrace and Persia. Based in Speyer, the Hetairoi has expanded its reach and impressions through collaborations with numerous museums in Germany and Austria. This enables them to offer historically accurate presentations for a variety of occasions and topics, extending their commitment to “Living History.”

Netherlands

Enyalios is a dedicated reenactment group based in the Netherlands, specialized in portraying the valiant warriors of Ancient Greece. Drawing inspiration from their namesake, Enyalios, an epithet of the war god Ares, they embody the courage, discipline, and strategic prowess of these iconic soldiers.

Bulgaria

Evmolpiada is a Bulgarian reenactement group that aims to represent the Thracian and Hellenic cultures, with a particular focus on the Hellenic colonies around the Black Sea, throughout the Archaic, Classical, and early Hellenistic periods. Based in Bulgaria, the group is named after one of Plovdiv’s oldest historical names – Evmolpiada.Before it came under the rule of Philip II of Macedon, who renamed it Philippopolis, Plovdiv was a Thracian city. With a rich history dating back thousands of years, Plovdiv is recognized as one of the oldest cities in the world. This deep historical heritage serves as a profound backdrop for our reenactment activities, enriching our understanding and representation of these vibrant cultures.

SCYTIA MINOR-IV LEGION SCYTHICA is named after the ancient province of Scythia Minor, which corresponds to the modern-day area of Dobrogea, where the club was founded in Dobrich city. The area was inhabited by various cultures and peoples, including the Scythians, represented by the griffin symbol. The club pays homage to the rich history of this region, from its early settlements during the late Neolithic period to the significant Greek colonization, and eventual Roman conquest. The region was notable for its Scythian kings and for being part of the most significant Thracian state, The Odrysian kingdom. The club remembers this history through its name and by the exploration of the cultural relics left behind like ancient buildings, frescoes, statues, coins, and jewelry.

Australia (Sydney)

Sydney Ancients is a re-enactment group focused on Classical Greece, Early Republican Rome and 1st Century Imperial Rome. The group interest covers all facets of ancient life including military and civilian activities.

Australia (Melbourne)

Ancient Hoplitikon is a group of people who are located in Melbourne and the state of Victoria who specialise in Ancient Classical and Hellenistic Greek re-enactment. The group’s focus is to study, replicate and perform with military and civilian equipment from the period of 600-100 BC.

Australia (Brisbane)

Mare Nostrvm is an Ancient Historical Society concerned with the ancient Mediterranean cultures of Rome and Greece, as the words ROMA and Ἑλλάς in our logo suggest.

In the field of re-enactments we currently portray civilians and Roman Legionaries of the fourth urban legion and their Greek slingers before the outbreak of the 2nd. Punic War in the year of the consuls MARCVS VALERIVS LAEVINVS and QVINTVS MVCVS SCAEVOLA (i.e. 220BC) while travelling from Antivm to Rome, as well as Greek mercenary Hoplites and slingers from the 5th century BC.

Online

If you are interested in Greek Reenactment, or Greek history in general, make sure you join the International Hoplite Discussion Group on Facebook, where passionate and well-informed reenactors and historians will be able to answer all of your questions.

The rest of this page will focus more specifically on the Hoplite Association – if you are in the United Kingdom and would like to try out Greek Reenactment for yourself, read on!