03-23-2005, 04:53 PM
I'll even go further than Vort; if Caesar had organized an expeditio parthica the way he organised his landing in Britain, or worse, his landings in Africa, he would surely have lost.<br>
But Caesar was blessed with a totally obscene luck, so..<br>
He got beaten a few times (Gergovia, Dyrrhachium) but not decisively beaten, so he may have gotten out of it alive.<br>
As for Marcus Antonius' expedition it can't really be termed a great success, unless we consider extricating ourselves from a very difficult sitruation a great success..<br>
As for the bow, I'll ask for an expert opinion, that is someone who has a bow drawing 75 pounds and a roman shield. My bet is that an arrow will go through it like butter.<br>
Alxandr, there was no stress and confusion on the horse archers' part once the gallic cavalry was gone: the Romans were hunkered behind their shields, trying to walk one step at a time and had absolutely no way to hit the horse archers. None. I bet the Parthians didn't even canter, probably not even trot. Some of them just stood there, about ten yards away and shot almost point blank --those were the ones pinning hands to the shields and feet to the ground, while the others kept a continuing stream of arrows overhead. They did not have to gallop. It was basically like hunting down a pack of slow moving cattle.<br>
And they were ready for that as demonstrated by the anecdote about the camels loaded with ammunition waiting in the rear area. <p></p><i></i>
But Caesar was blessed with a totally obscene luck, so..<br>
He got beaten a few times (Gergovia, Dyrrhachium) but not decisively beaten, so he may have gotten out of it alive.<br>
As for Marcus Antonius' expedition it can't really be termed a great success, unless we consider extricating ourselves from a very difficult sitruation a great success..<br>
As for the bow, I'll ask for an expert opinion, that is someone who has a bow drawing 75 pounds and a roman shield. My bet is that an arrow will go through it like butter.<br>
Alxandr, there was no stress and confusion on the horse archers' part once the gallic cavalry was gone: the Romans were hunkered behind their shields, trying to walk one step at a time and had absolutely no way to hit the horse archers. None. I bet the Parthians didn't even canter, probably not even trot. Some of them just stood there, about ten yards away and shot almost point blank --those were the ones pinning hands to the shields and feet to the ground, while the others kept a continuing stream of arrows overhead. They did not have to gallop. It was basically like hunting down a pack of slow moving cattle.<br>
And they were ready for that as demonstrated by the anecdote about the camels loaded with ammunition waiting in the rear area. <p></p><i></i>
