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Cretan archers were a well known class of warrior whose specialist skills were extensively utilized in both ancient and medieval warfare. [1] They were especially valued in armies, such as those of the Greek city-states, (notably Athens, Sparta, Eretria, and Macedonia) and those of ancient Rome, which could not draw upon substantial numbers of skilled archers from their native populations.
Miller pointed out that Spartan allows infantry to use the sarissa earlier than this. Miller suggested several rule changes to make Spartan more historically accurate in this respect, and concluded, "When implemented, these aforementioned rules changes will lessen the role of the phalanx to a certain extent, but it maintains an important ...
Since the early 3rd century BC, the pilos helmet had become almost standard within the Spartan army, being in use by the Spartans until the end of the Classical era. [citation needed] Also, after the "Iphicratean reforms," peltasts became a much more common sight on the Greek battlefield, and themselves became more heavily armed.
Popular ranged weapons were the bow , javelin and sling . While the bow was a relatively uncommon weapon (the wooden stave bow used had a limited range), some troops treated their arrows by thrusting them into rotting corpses, thus creating a crude form of biological weapon. [10]
Despite their name and the presence of archers in Athenian art, researchers have questioned whether the Scythian police would have actually used bows and arrows. Archery expert Mike Loades argued that the Athenian vase paintings do not depict realistic Scythian composite bows , quivers, and clothing, especially compared to those known from ...
The battle's earliest known appearance in culture is a series of epigrams commemorating the dead written by Simonides of Ceos in the battle's aftermath. [177] In Europe, interest in the battle was revitalized in the 1700s with the publication of the poems Leonidas, A Poem by Richard Glover in 1737 and Leonidas by Willem van Haren in 1742. [178]
The battle marked a turning point in both Greek and military history as it caused the Spartans to adopt the phalanx of hoplites as their key strategy in place of the loose spear-throwing formations prevalent until then. The phalanx was to revolutionise warfare.
Composite bow: Same as that carried by the Toxotai. Kontarion: or lance, slightly shorter and less thick than that used by the skutatoi which could also be thrown like a pilum. Spathion: Also identical to the infantry weapon. Dagger: Sometimes referred to as a "Machaira" Battle axe: Usually strapped to the saddle as a backup weapon and tool.