War Archive
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The tale of the sword
Posted on August 16, 2012 | No CommentsOne of the most common myths relating to the use of swords of the Bronze Age (both flange-hilted and full-hilted) relates to the shortness of the hilt, which appears to be too small for practical use. Having now tried out several hundred swords I can reject this myth as unfounded. -
Who Were the Sea People?
Posted on July 29, 2012 | No CommentsSince the Middle Ages, however, Homer's historical accuracy has been in question. It was not until late in the last century that archeological excavations around the Mediterranean began to show that Homer had indeed drawn, at least in part, on real events. -
Rhetoric as Ritual: The Semiotics of the Attic Funeral Oration
Posted on July 13, 2012 | No CommentsIndeed, these speeches formed a truly popular genre. The speakers were selected by the democratic city council, themselves chosen for office by blind lot, and voted upon by the assembly. -
Roman (Un)Exceptionalism: Dispelling Popular Notions of Roman Belligerence
Posted on July 6, 2012 | No CommentsCompared to the rich literary history of Rome, little is known about the Samnites. Ar- chaeology agrees with ancient sources that the Samnites were originally conquerors from farther inland Europe, who finally settled in central Italy. -
Homeric war on film
Posted on June 9, 2012 | No CommentsWhen producing a film concerning the Iliadic War the filmmaker must consider the balance between historical authenticity and dramatic effectiveness. Difficulties increase since there is little sense of historicity, the archaeological support has little to offer and each filmmaker is obliged to use his own creativity in order to reconstruct battles and duels. -
This is Sparta?
Posted on June 6, 2012 | No CommentsNeither film, however, gives any real screen time, or indeed mention of, the social structure of ancient Sparta. -
The regionalization of equestrians and centurions in the Roman Imperial Army
Posted on January 18, 2012 | No CommentsThe army of the Roman Empire has been the subject of many studies, and with each successive endeavour the body of knowledge concerning all aspects of the Roman military machine has increased. -
Romans and Goths in late antique Gaul: asepcts of political and cultural assimilation in the Fifth Century AD
Posted on January 5, 2012 | No CommentsFrom the fifth century AD onwards, the history of the Roman empire is often associated with the so-called -
In search of Xerxes: images of the Persian king
Posted on January 4, 2012 | No CommentsFor the ancient Greeks, the universal enemy who came to represent a threat to Hellenic culture was Xerxes, the Persian despot who, in an attempt to deprive her of her freedom invaded Greece in 480 BC. -
The influence of Hannibal of Carthage on the art of war and how his legacy has been interpreted
Posted on January 4, 2012 | No CommentsPerhaps no other commander in the history of warfare has exerted such a long-term influence on the minds and actions of warriors and scholars of the military arts. It is almost impossible to read military history and not come across some reference to Hannibal and his exploits.
