The two leading producers of 1/72 scale ancients are Italieri (http://www.italeri.com/) and Hat (http://www.hat.com/). Italieri has been selling figures produced by the Russian company Zvezda. Zvezda is currently producing matched armies for historical battles. As a result the Italiari sets usually include a wide variety of figures that can be used to form a complete army provided you buy enough of them.

Hat has taken a different approach. Their boxes are more focused and you'll need to buy several different sets to put together an army. Hat is currently producing a Punic Wars line of figures and a line of figures for Alexander vs. Darius. They have an Imperial Rome series in the works. Further information about 1/72 scale ancients can be found at the Ancient Armies Index (http://ancientarmies.feas.net/sets_main.htm) and on the list maintained by the Society of Ancients (http://www.soa.org.uk/main/resource/figures/figures20.htm).

Pictures of most of these miniatures can be found in the articles about the battles of Zama, Marathon, and Adrianople.

Greeks and Macedonians

Italieri Greek Infantry (Hoplites)

A very good set of figures. Included are a few archers, slingers, and javelins. But the heart of the set is the Hoplites. They look great with their helmets, heavy spears, and shields (with designs that are easy to paint). Unfortunately there are also a lot of Hoplites with swords. I would prefer more spearmen, but the figures look great. The set also includes a guy playing a pan flute and a commander figure in a big cloak.

Zvezda Macedonian Cavalry

This set is also available from Italieri. This set includes the Companions and an Alexander the Great figure! The rest of the cavalry include spears, swords, bows and javelins. All of the figures are beautiful and have dynamic poses.

Persians

Italieri Persian Infantry

A very nice set of figures. Includes 10 archers, 6 javelins, 14 spearmen, and 10 figures with swords, knives, and axes. The spearmen come with large rectangular shields, which can also be propped up on their own. The set includes two lovely figures that can be used as commanders - one guy holding a banner and another with a fur cloak pointing dramatically and looking very regal.

Italieri Persian Cavalry with Chariot

These are a perfect complement to the Italieri Persian Infantry. The box includes an impressive four-horse scythe chariot complete with a driver (with whip) and a javelin thrower. The rest of the figures include heavy and light cavalry. There are archers and javelin throwers as well as armored horses and riders. One pose of horses comes with winged armor, and one pose of rider is carrying a banner (could be used as a commander). I look forward to painting these figures.

Romans

Italieri Roman Infantry (1st - 2nd Century BC)

As is their custom, Italieri has included some figures that can be used as commanders. These include a very fine mounted officer, a standard bearer in a bear pelt, and a centurion. The infantry are well armored in mail shirts and crested helmets. They are carrying the familiar curved Roman shields, which have to be glued on and have an annoying habit of falling off. There are two poses with pilum in hand - shields held to the front and shields held overhead. Although the figures look great the poses are confusing, as the men appear to be looking to the side. When I used these figures with my students they frequently faced them in the wrong direction.

Hat Republican Romans Hastati and Velites

This forty eight-figure set includes sixteen Velites. The Velites are wearing wolf pelts and carry round shields and javelins. The thirty-two Hastati are carrying pila or swords. They have feathered helmets and carry the familiar Roman shields, which do not have to be glued on. Their only armor is a small chest plate and shin guard.

Hat Roman Cavalry

This set is the usual Hat mix of twelve mounted figures in four poses. The figures look good. Three poses carry spears and the fourth has a sword. They wear cuirasses and mail shirts, helmets, and carry round shields. A very useful set of figures.

Hat Roman Catapults

This is set is a strange mix. The four catapults are excellent Scorpion bolt throwers. They come with a crew of three men (one pulls the trigger, one is holding the bolts, and the third is pointing to the target). The rest of the figures are identical to the Hastati and Velites in the other Hat set. For some strange reason the Hastati and Velites are 25mm, and are noticeably larger than the other figures in the Hat line. The Scorpion and crew, however, appear to be 1/72 scale. Buy the set for the catapults and crew, not the other figures.

Carthaginians

Hat Spanish Infantry

Included in this set are two poses of slingers, which can be used in a lot of armies. The rest of the poses are unarmored infantry with spears, big curved knives, and shields. They are serviceable, but unimpressive.

Hat African Infantry

This is a useful and diverse set of figures. The 48 figures come in three flavors. Two poses appear to be Numidians with no armor, round shields, and spears. Three poses are light infantry with spear or swords but little of no armor. The best figures have armor, crested helmets, round shields, and long spears. These will work well as Hannibal's veterans.

Hat War Elephants

I love this set! It comes with six war elephants (two poses). Each elephant has a rider on his head and a square tower chained to his back. Two figures fit in the tower and are wielding long spears. The elephants just look fabulous and the set is well worth the price. It was hard to fit the figures in the tower but it was worth the effort.

Hat Numidian Cavalry

These are just as I have imagined the Numidians. There are twelve of them (4 poses) carrying javelins and round shields. They wear no armor and are riding bare back.

Barbarians

Hat Ancient Britons

These figures are awful, misshapen warriors. Many are wearing crummy looking horned helmets and baggy clothing. Their only redeeming value is that they come with some figures that are not available in the Italieri Gaul Warriors set - three archers, two slingers, two casualties, two chariots (two horses, a driver and a spear man), and a nice leader figure with an attractive bird helmet and cloak. The rest of the figures are a forgettable mix of axes, swords, and spears.

Hat Celtic Cavalry

Comes with twelve mounted figures in four poses. The figues carry spears and shields and are wearing good-looking helmets and shields. They mix well with the Italieri Celtic Cavalry.

Italieri Gaul Warriors

Forty fierce and wild looking warriors. The majority of the figures are in four poses - two with swords, two with spears. The poses include naked swordsmen, two bare-chested warriors, and one pose with a mail shirt. All the figures have large shields, which must be glued on. Also in the set are two well-armored leaders, a horn blower, and a man carrying a boar standard.

Italieri Celtic Cavalry

A very good set of 15 mounted figures and two infantry. The cavalry come in three poses - shirtless swordsman, axe, and spear. The shields are well detailed.