11-15-2008, 06:10 AM
Quote:I'll start with the fact that the "piloi" were not protecting the Spartans from arrows. It has beed discussed again,but how possible is it that the word "pilos" here is refering not to the metal conical helmet,but to the felt cap worn under the helmet? How can a corinthian,or better,a chalkidean helmet protect much better than a pilos,provided the men fighting in a phalanx are covered by their shields? The shield can cover you to the eyes.
I must admit that this is bloody fascinating. I can’t recall how many times I must have read Thucydides over the decades – particularly the actions in and around Pylos / Shpacteria – and in all that time it has taken Giannis’ thread for me to notice the felt helemts of the Spartans failing to keep out arrows.
I have Rex Warner’s translation and he translates it as “…their felt helmets could not keep out the arrows…â€
Paralus|Michael Park
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
