08-01-2006, 10:56 AM
Charete Filoi,
I was thinking, (I do that sometimes) that certainly hoplites, peltasts, psiloi and ekdromoi are all fine and good, but an army marches with its stomach. So how about this most important part of any Greek army, Skeuoforos the baggage carrier?
![[Image: Baggage1.jpg]](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e238/Spyros74/Baggage1.jpg)
So far, and also thanks to Stefanos, I’ve discovered two authors providing us with details about what baggage carriers actually carried. Xenophon is one, and strangely enough Aristophanes.
Of course both authors description must be taken with a pinch of salt. Xenophon because he describes what the “perfect” army should carry, and Aristophanes because in “Acharnes” describes the contents of Lamachus (a General) food basket.
From representations what appears to be the base of the baggage kit was a wooden frame or yoke called “Gylios” (A of the diagram).
Sorry about the poor quality I’m not very good at this sort of thinks.
![[Image: Baggage4.jpg]](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e238/Spyros74/Baggage4.jpg)
Over the “Y” end of the Gylios the beddings (B of the diagram) were strapped. The beddings themselves could be used as carrying space. Inside or strapped on them, According to Xenophon, one could carry pottery, a mill for flour medical supplies and so on. I do not know what one could use for bedding. Blankets are a possibility, goat skins (very warm and comfortable by the way)
On the other end, a basket carrying food supplies was suspended. What was actually carried was a matter of personal wealth and preference. On the start of a campaign the city would ordain for how many days supplies should be carried.
Barley was certainly carried as it was the base of their diet. Also onions, preserved fish or meat (rarely), salt, figs and other dried fruits perhaps. Fig and grape leaves were used to wrap the food.
Canteens made from caly were also carried.
An interesting datum about Aegeanitic clay. It is very porous and the pots made from it “sweat”. For that reasons they were used up until 50 years ago to cool water in the Athenian houses. They would place them in the northern windows and would take advantage of the summer breeze effectively creating a water cooler.
I was thinking, (I do that sometimes) that certainly hoplites, peltasts, psiloi and ekdromoi are all fine and good, but an army marches with its stomach. So how about this most important part of any Greek army, Skeuoforos the baggage carrier?
So far, and also thanks to Stefanos, I’ve discovered two authors providing us with details about what baggage carriers actually carried. Xenophon is one, and strangely enough Aristophanes.
Of course both authors description must be taken with a pinch of salt. Xenophon because he describes what the “perfect” army should carry, and Aristophanes because in “Acharnes” describes the contents of Lamachus (a General) food basket.
From representations what appears to be the base of the baggage kit was a wooden frame or yoke called “Gylios” (A of the diagram).
Sorry about the poor quality I’m not very good at this sort of thinks.
Over the “Y” end of the Gylios the beddings (B of the diagram) were strapped. The beddings themselves could be used as carrying space. Inside or strapped on them, According to Xenophon, one could carry pottery, a mill for flour medical supplies and so on. I do not know what one could use for bedding. Blankets are a possibility, goat skins (very warm and comfortable by the way)
On the other end, a basket carrying food supplies was suspended. What was actually carried was a matter of personal wealth and preference. On the start of a campaign the city would ordain for how many days supplies should be carried.
Barley was certainly carried as it was the base of their diet. Also onions, preserved fish or meat (rarely), salt, figs and other dried fruits perhaps. Fig and grape leaves were used to wrap the food.
Canteens made from caly were also carried.
An interesting datum about Aegeanitic clay. It is very porous and the pots made from it “sweat”. For that reasons they were used up until 50 years ago to cool water in the Athenian houses. They would place them in the northern windows and would take advantage of the summer breeze effectively creating a water cooler.
Spyros Kaltikopoulos
Honor to those who in the life they lead
define and guard a Thermopylae.
Never betraying what is right,
consistent and just in all they do
but showing pity also, and compassion
Kavafis the Alexandrian
Honor to those who in the life they lead
define and guard a Thermopylae.
Never betraying what is right,
consistent and just in all they do
but showing pity also, and compassion
Kavafis the Alexandrian
![[Image: Baggage2.jpg]](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e238/Spyros74/Baggage2.jpg)
