08-30-2009, 02:54 PM
Quote:Perhaps I am misunderstanding you, but I understood the top passage to refer to the Roman shields (the wall refered to)being pierced and held back from closing with the phalanx, in a frontal formation against formation confrontation.
I think the linking of these two phrases makes it clear that he is referring to the Macedonians. Whomever is the "wall" is also "bristling with arms". Why would he be alarmed at the impressiveness of a roman shield wall? The author is describing the innefectiveness of the Romans against the phalanx, so suddenly praising the strength of their "wall" would be odd. The picture the author paints is that they: Brought round their peltae, lowered their sarissa, thus looked like a wall bristling with weapons.
Quote:brought them round before them, and all at once stooped their pikes against their enemies' shields, and considered the great strength of this wall of shields, and the formidable appearance of a front thus bristling with arms
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!"
