02-10-2012, 08:37 AM
Okay there is much speculation about how the Carthaginian army was organized. I understand there was a great reliance on mercenaries, allies and 'subjected' peoples. The organization of those peoples' units would be unique to the particular nationality. No worries there, but what about the native Punic units, the Sacred Band, the Libo-Phonicians?
I've seen where they've been organized as the Greeks of the day, but I got to thinking, wouldn't they have fallen back on their Phonician roots? Which led me to another thought. What kind of army, if any, did the Phonicians posses? The city-states of Sidon, Tyre, etc how were their forces organized? What kind of composition? Did they form tribal units, as many of the other ancient cultures did? What size units from the basic to the largest?
I know the Carthaginian army would have evolved and changed over the centuries, but militaries tend to be conservative and it makes sense to me that some of the mother country's ways would have carried over to the colony and lasted through out the ages.
Any ideas?
Thanks. al
PS I have Lazenby's "Hannibal's Army", and a few Osprey titles on the Punic Wars, Herodotus and Thucydides, etc. So if anyone knows if any of these may have some answers (that I have yet to stumble across) feel free to point to them.
Thanks. al
I've seen where they've been organized as the Greeks of the day, but I got to thinking, wouldn't they have fallen back on their Phonician roots? Which led me to another thought. What kind of army, if any, did the Phonicians posses? The city-states of Sidon, Tyre, etc how were their forces organized? What kind of composition? Did they form tribal units, as many of the other ancient cultures did? What size units from the basic to the largest?
I know the Carthaginian army would have evolved and changed over the centuries, but militaries tend to be conservative and it makes sense to me that some of the mother country's ways would have carried over to the colony and lasted through out the ages.
Any ideas?
Thanks. al
PS I have Lazenby's "Hannibal's Army", and a few Osprey titles on the Punic Wars, Herodotus and Thucydides, etc. So if anyone knows if any of these may have some answers (that I have yet to stumble across) feel free to point to them.
Thanks. al