02-14-2012, 03:46 AM
Just to add another dimension to the numbers "game" in ancient battles, Greek or otherwise, there is also the vexed qustion of the number of dead after battles and what happened to them too. The accounts of slaughter rarely includes the administration of the aftermath but it presents its own logistic questions:
Bodies piled up and burnt? Fairly hygenic in the scheme of things but would need a decent wood supply (more logistics).
Dead equids used for fresh rations? A possibility. (May have to draw the line at eating elephants , but its meat afterall).
Bodies buried in pits? Needs someone to do the digging - prisoners? - and someone to guard them. But perhaps not an option in some places due to terrain (too rocky) or the potential contamination of water tables.
Left to rot? Very unhygenic and disrespectful but saves a lot of time, effort and unpleasantness unless prisoners were used.
And the collection of arms and armour from the battle field? Another logisitic requirement and possibly essential to re-equip/replace the victorious army's damages.
Sea battles of course avoid a lot of this except for those bodies washed up on shore.
Bodies piled up and burnt? Fairly hygenic in the scheme of things but would need a decent wood supply (more logistics).
Dead equids used for fresh rations? A possibility. (May have to draw the line at eating elephants , but its meat afterall).
Bodies buried in pits? Needs someone to do the digging - prisoners? - and someone to guard them. But perhaps not an option in some places due to terrain (too rocky) or the potential contamination of water tables.
Left to rot? Very unhygenic and disrespectful but saves a lot of time, effort and unpleasantness unless prisoners were used.
And the collection of arms and armour from the battle field? Another logisitic requirement and possibly essential to re-equip/replace the victorious army's damages.
Sea battles of course avoid a lot of this except for those bodies washed up on shore.
Moi Watson
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Merlot in one hand, Cigar in the other; body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!
