 Josephus describes various units of Herod's personal guard taking part in Herod's funeral, including the "Doryphnoroi", and a Thracian, Celtic (probably Gallic) and Germanic contingent.While the term "Doryphnoroi" does not have an ethnic connotation, the unit was probably composed of distinguished veteran soldiers and young men from the most influential Jewish families.Thracians had served in the Jewish armies since the Hasmonean dynasty, while the Celtic contingent were former bodyguards of Cleopatra given as a gift by Augustus to Herod following the Battle of Actium.