05-23-2007, 09:13 AM
Hi, chaps,
Thanks for the comments. Steve Senior and I can be recognised by his Lambda and my black bull's head on blue field shield devices, in the first photo. The "soft focus" appearance is due to the (highly-authentic!) dust raised in the battle.
As regards the Lambdas and some other anachronisms, we know what they are, but many people want a particular piece for their personal interest and so we have a spread of equipment form Archaic Bell Cuirass
(Eduardo) through to the Lambda (Steve and at least one other).
We did not point out these things in the formal, arena presentation, but the talk did cover Archaic to Hellenistic times. Eduardo is still working on how to deliver the "didactic" element and, indeed, made a number of changes in it over the course of the weekend, putting his experience directly and immediately into practice.
I believe Ancient Greek groups need to cover this whole range and, given the scarcity of such things, they will have to generalise, rather than specialise, at least for the time being.
There is a particular problem with Sparta, because so many people want to represent it and they want their affiliation to be as obvious as possible, so they get Lambda shields. The public is currently receptive to this, but not to the notion of Spartans with individual, tribal or local devices. Let's face it, if you're going to pay £500 for a shield, you're going to buy your favourite type! Also, Steve, for example, began re-enacting independently and put together a Spartan, Peloponnesian War, panoply, prior to joining a group which had an earlier focus.
Athenea Promakhos have some non-metallic kit - most of which you wouldn't spot as such - but are working towards abandoning it, as indeed, they are working towards the highest standards possible, in every respect.
The group has exploded in numbers, recently (a mark of its success) and so, in order to allow the new members to take part, with some equipment, they have continued to use some kit which they might otherwise have left at home. That this allowed them to field enough men to re-create believable combat is sufficient justification for the policy, I believe.
I think it is correct to say that Eduardo's is now the largest Ancient Greek group in the world, in terms of Hoplites fielded. They deserve great credit for what they are achieving. Eduardo clearly has some very able supporters - Juan-Carlos, Mariano and Alvaro spring to mind - but it is also very clear that Athenea Promakhos owes it success, as well as its origin, to his vision, energy and abilities. Steve and I honour him as a great re-enactor and group leader and are very grateful for the opportunity he gave us to work alongside him and his fellows at Tarraco Viva.
Next stop, Sheffield!
Thanks for the comments. Steve Senior and I can be recognised by his Lambda and my black bull's head on blue field shield devices, in the first photo. The "soft focus" appearance is due to the (highly-authentic!) dust raised in the battle.
As regards the Lambdas and some other anachronisms, we know what they are, but many people want a particular piece for their personal interest and so we have a spread of equipment form Archaic Bell Cuirass
(Eduardo) through to the Lambda (Steve and at least one other).
We did not point out these things in the formal, arena presentation, but the talk did cover Archaic to Hellenistic times. Eduardo is still working on how to deliver the "didactic" element and, indeed, made a number of changes in it over the course of the weekend, putting his experience directly and immediately into practice.
I believe Ancient Greek groups need to cover this whole range and, given the scarcity of such things, they will have to generalise, rather than specialise, at least for the time being.
There is a particular problem with Sparta, because so many people want to represent it and they want their affiliation to be as obvious as possible, so they get Lambda shields. The public is currently receptive to this, but not to the notion of Spartans with individual, tribal or local devices. Let's face it, if you're going to pay £500 for a shield, you're going to buy your favourite type! Also, Steve, for example, began re-enacting independently and put together a Spartan, Peloponnesian War, panoply, prior to joining a group which had an earlier focus.
Athenea Promakhos have some non-metallic kit - most of which you wouldn't spot as such - but are working towards abandoning it, as indeed, they are working towards the highest standards possible, in every respect.
The group has exploded in numbers, recently (a mark of its success) and so, in order to allow the new members to take part, with some equipment, they have continued to use some kit which they might otherwise have left at home. That this allowed them to field enough men to re-create believable combat is sufficient justification for the policy, I believe.
I think it is correct to say that Eduardo's is now the largest Ancient Greek group in the world, in terms of Hoplites fielded. They deserve great credit for what they are achieving. Eduardo clearly has some very able supporters - Juan-Carlos, Mariano and Alvaro spring to mind - but it is also very clear that Athenea Promakhos owes it success, as well as its origin, to his vision, energy and abilities. Steve and I honour him as a great re-enactor and group leader and are very grateful for the opportunity he gave us to work alongside him and his fellows at Tarraco Viva.
Next stop, Sheffield!
