tents as missle defence?

[Matthew Amt]

I think the ancient description of camp layout includes an empty space inside the rampart, to keep the tents out of missile range. Don't recall if that's Polybius or Hyginus. It doesn't have to be a hugely wide space, since most of the worry is the bad guys chucking things in from outside the ditch. Archers would tend to be farther back (and would be focusing on shooting the defenders), and the enemy rarely had much in the way of artillery.<br>
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Plus, if the camp is under attack, the idea would be to get OUT of the tents and into action as quickly as possible! But yes, leather tents will go up in a firestorm a lot less readily than canvas ones.<br>
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Valete,<br>
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Matthew/Quintus <p></p><i></i>