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The sight of them indeed dismayed the Romans, but at the same time the prospect of winning such spoils made them twice as keen for the fight, but their small shields offered little protection against Roman javelins, and the Gaesatae were driven back and their allies slaughtered. [12] Concolitanus was captured.
Polybius' Histories describe how the Gaesatae, hired by other Celtic peoples, the Boii and Insubres, as mercenaries to fight the Romans, stood naked at the head of their army at the Battle of Telamon in 225BC. [1] The Boii and Insubres at this very battle are described fighting barechested, retaining only their trousers, shoes and cloaks. [2]
Endemic warfare appears to have been a regular feature of Celtic societies. While epic literature depicts this as more of a sport focused on raids and hunting rather than an organized territorial conquest, the historical record is more of different groups using warfare to exert political control and harass rivals, for economic advantage, and in some instances to conquer territory.
So, for reasons of either improved athletic performance or for safety, ancient Greek Olympic athletes compete naked. [3] c. 650 BC: In Sparta, both women and men occasionally appear nude in certain festivals and during exercise. [4] See Gymnopaedia. First century AD: Historian Diodorus Siculus records that the Celts commonly fight naked in ...
Polybius also asserts that certain of the Celts fought naked: "The appearance of these naked warriors was a terrifying spectacle, for they were all men of splendid physique and in the prime of life." [ 180 ] According to Livy, this was also true of the Celts of Asia Minor.
The appearance of these naked warriors was a terrifying spectacle, for they were all men of splendid physique and in the prime of life. — Polybius, Histories II.28 The Roman historian Livy recorded that the Celts of Asia Minor fought naked and their wounds were plain to see on the whiteness of their bodies. [ 8 ]
With the Celts celebrating a Nov. 1 new year, it made sense to celebrate Oct. 31. Pope Gregory III designated Nov. 1 as a time to honor saints, hence All Saints Day, which would incorporate the ...
Polybius asserts that Celts typically fought naked, "The appearance of these naked warriors was a terrifying spectacle, for they were all men of splendid physique and in the prime of life." [38] In Greek culture, depictions of erotic nudity were considered normal.