02-14-2016, 01:30 AM
Hi all,
I'm writing a fantasy novel (in swedish) placed in a setting of ancient greece. Obviously it's fiction, but I want to get the setting right. In my story the world has been conquered by a people with close resemblance to the spartans. Things that have me confused are the following;
1.) The spartans trained in dancing and singing - they probably sang when marching (?) and when entering a battlefield - but did they keep on singing once they were in the actual fight? Are there any records or hints of what they sang about or how the songs were organized (different songs for different formations or marching speed etc)?
2.) Ranks; I've found the following spartan military ranks;
king (one of two)
polemarch (mora)
lochagos (lockos)
pentekonter (pentekostys)
enomotarch (enomotia)
Are there any more?
On the "phalanx" Wikipedia states;
"The basic combat element of the Greek armies was either the stichos (meaning "file"; usually 8-16 men strong) or the enomotia (meaning "sworn" and made up by 2-4 stichœ; totaling up to 32 men), both led by a dimœrites who was assisted by a decadarchos and two decasterœ(sing. decanters)."
Are these for a greek or a Macedonian phalanx?
Wikipedia states "both", does that mean that a "dimoerites" led both the file and the enomotia? How does that add upp? How do I place these three new ranks in the above mentioned list?
I thought I saw Bardunias in here and I already sent him another question, maybe it will pop up here in one way or another, but I'll start with these. Grateful, sincere and confused greekonoob writing out of Stockholm.
I'm writing a fantasy novel (in swedish) placed in a setting of ancient greece. Obviously it's fiction, but I want to get the setting right. In my story the world has been conquered by a people with close resemblance to the spartans. Things that have me confused are the following;
1.) The spartans trained in dancing and singing - they probably sang when marching (?) and when entering a battlefield - but did they keep on singing once they were in the actual fight? Are there any records or hints of what they sang about or how the songs were organized (different songs for different formations or marching speed etc)?
2.) Ranks; I've found the following spartan military ranks;
king (one of two)
polemarch (mora)
lochagos (lockos)
pentekonter (pentekostys)
enomotarch (enomotia)
Are there any more?
On the "phalanx" Wikipedia states;
"The basic combat element of the Greek armies was either the stichos (meaning "file"; usually 8-16 men strong) or the enomotia (meaning "sworn" and made up by 2-4 stichœ; totaling up to 32 men), both led by a dimœrites who was assisted by a decadarchos and two decasterœ(sing. decanters)."
Are these for a greek or a Macedonian phalanx?
Wikipedia states "both", does that mean that a "dimoerites" led both the file and the enomotia? How does that add upp? How do I place these three new ranks in the above mentioned list?
I thought I saw Bardunias in here and I already sent him another question, maybe it will pop up here in one way or another, but I'll start with these. Grateful, sincere and confused greekonoob writing out of Stockholm.