10-07-2010, 12:29 AM
Hey George, visit any battlefields this summer? Send me an email.
"of course he had to rely on third person accounts to reconstruct both the armament of the Egyptian mercenaries and the way Cyrus' chariots charged them. "
Most of the elements in the Cyropaedia are actually contemporary from Xenophon's day or completely ficticious. Thus his Egyptian "hoplites" are exactly like those on the field at Cunaxa, where he described the long shields. He even says they were "like those used still used". Of course picking apart the old, the new and the ficticious elements sounds like work for a thesis.
I agree, and frankly I am suprised that you could get the horses to do a Kamikazee crash into the phalanx. Perhaps they more hit at and angle to the front, drawing the scythe along the ranks, but oten end up stuck in the mass as men move out from the front line to attempt to avoid them.
I posted another thread about Thymbara the other day that you might enjoy.
"of course he had to rely on third person accounts to reconstruct both the armament of the Egyptian mercenaries and the way Cyrus' chariots charged them. "
Most of the elements in the Cyropaedia are actually contemporary from Xenophon's day or completely ficticious. Thus his Egyptian "hoplites" are exactly like those on the field at Cunaxa, where he described the long shields. He even says they were "like those used still used". Of course picking apart the old, the new and the ficticious elements sounds like work for a thesis.
Quote:Anyways, I tend to trust Xenophon, he was an able and battle hardened veteran and his accounts are among the most trustworthy we have. I do not think that he actually contradicts himself. In my view, he talks about a battle where the charioteers fought more like kamikazee pilots,
I agree, and frankly I am suprised that you could get the horses to do a Kamikazee crash into the phalanx. Perhaps they more hit at and angle to the front, drawing the scythe along the ranks, but oten end up stuck in the mass as men move out from the front line to attempt to avoid them.
I posted another thread about Thymbara the other day that you might enjoy.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
