08-04-2007, 02:40 PM
Great discussion.
I don't think the 6' Facing that Polybius suggests is a medieval transcribing error, especially as Polybius then explains that the result is that every Roman therefore has two Greeks facing him. That would mean each Greek had a Facing of less than 1.5', which strikes me as very unlikely.
Matthew James Stanham
Quote:Further, wasn't there also an 'optio' for each century, who could also move around the unit, raising morale and giving orders, or remaining with the standard to transmit changes in tactics? (Sorry, it's along time since I studied and only slowly are things coming back to me: was the optio in the manipular, Polybian legion or did he only surface later? :? )According to Polybius Book 6.24, there were two Centurions, two Optiones and two Vexillarii in each Manipuli. The Optiones, in my translation, are 'rear rank officers'.
I don't think the 6' Facing that Polybius suggests is a medieval transcribing error, especially as Polybius then explains that the result is that every Roman therefore has two Greeks facing him. That would mean each Greek had a Facing of less than 1.5', which strikes me as very unlikely.
Matthew James Stanham
It is a joyful thing indeed to hold intimate converse with a man after one\'s own heart, chatting without reserve about things of interest or the fleeting topics of the world; but such, alas, are few and far between.
Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)
Yoshida Kenko (1283-1350), Tsurezure-Gusa (1340)
