08-04-2010, 11:07 PM
Quote:The encouragement of using literary and archeological references here at RAT is something that I admire and which most adhere to. I think no less should be expected of historians whose observations are the topics of television documentaries...
The documentary mentioned in the first post of this thread (Available in 8 parts on Youtube!) also contains some rather choice 'observations' on the subject of the military abilities of Boudicca and other 'celtic' women:
David Furlow: "(Boudicca) may also have had martial training, may actually have learned at an early age how to fight, how to hunt, and perhaps even how to kill..."
Gillian Carr: "The Icenian army was made up of anyone who was strong enough to carry a weapon: men, women, teenagers, even people who were getting quite old. I'm sure that everyone was so angry, they all wanted to fight!"
Guy de la Bedoyere: "We know very little about that background [of Boudicca and her daughters], but it's probable that they were trained in the art of war alongside the men in the tribe..."
The Bedoyere quote is particularly amusing - 'we know very little... but it's probable...' Historical documentaries like these require no corroboration for their statements, and any chance speculative comment by an 'historian' will often be taken as solid fact. I wouldn't be surprised if the 'sawtooth formation' idea derives from just such a source, many years ago...
- Nathan
Nathan Ross
