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Epic Poetry a hero who embodies communal, national, cultural, or religious ideals a hero upon whose actions determine the fate of his people a course of action in which the hero performs great and difficult deeds
a recognition of -- or intercession by -- divine or supernatural powers a concern with eternal human problems a dignified and elaborate poetic style
Important “Primary” Epics Gilgamesh (mesopotamian) Illiad/ Odyssey (Greek) Exodus (Hebrew) Aeneid (Latin ) Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon)
ORAL TRadiTION socio-cultural values transferred generation-to-generation by traveling poets/bards who sang songs about cultural heroes and values POETRY because rhyme/meter is easier to memorized and more stable as passed-on
HORSES IN BATTLE • Horses were probably first used to pull chariots in battle starting around 1500 BCE. But it wasn't until around 900 BCE that warriors themselves commonly fought on horseback. Among the first mounted archers and fighters were the Scythians, a group of nomadic Asian warriors who often raided the ancient Greeks.
Ancient cavalry • The Chinese of the 4th century BC during the Warring States period (403–221 BCE) began to use cavalry against rival states. To fight nomadic raiders from the north and west, the Chinese of the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 CE) developed effective mounted units.
Greek Armor - the SHIELD • Shield = HOPLON • Defining piece of equipment - • Greek warriors = HOPLITES • Hoplites = middle-class freemen farmers • paid for and took care of their own hoplon, armor, weapons • expensive - like a modern car
The Shield - The HOPLON • Heavy & large concave or bowl shaped • Wooden core with bronze facing and leather backing • About 3 feet across & about 18 lbs. • Held with arm-band & hand grip • Rested on left shoulder
Hoplite’s armor = PANOPLY • Shield, helmet, breastplate, greaves, sword, spear, tunic • Weighed about 70 lbs. • Typical Greek soldier - 150 lbs. • Expensive Greek Armor
Greek Armor = PANOPLY • The SPEAR • Principle offensive weapon • 8-9 feet long, held overhand • Iron or steel head - often broke upon impact • Bronze butt-spike
Greek Armor = PANOPLY • The Sword • Iron blade with bronze fittings - about 2 feet long • Cutting, Slashing & thrusting • A Last resort weapon, for “up-close” work • Heavy curved blade for slashing= kopis
Greek Armor • Bronze helmets - heavy, uncomfortable • Worn back on the head when not fighting • Bronze chest armor = cuirass • Bronze shin guards = greaves
Phalanx- rectangular military formation consisting almost entirely of heavily armored spearmen (though after Alexander the amount of armor became less important in labeling a division a phalanx)
Rome Under the Etruscan Kings Prior to the republic the Roman Army resembled a Macedonian phalanx. Cavalry used defensively Equipment and rank based on wealth
Rome adapts… Completely reorganizes army. Tactics during battle still not seen as important part of warfare. Cavalry still not seen as an offensive unit… and will not be for a while.
New Helmets! New Shields! Evolves and adapts
The ‘Classic’ Roman Legion • Came into being largely due to reforms of Caius Marius • Any citizen could be a soldier now, so long as he was fit and willing to fight • Soldiers prepared for any situation • Pensions! Marius’ Mules
Way the ‘Classic’ Legion Operated • With many wars under its belt the Roman Empire held dominance on the battlefield • Rome had tactics that only it had the resources to pull off
Response to Light Cavalry Repel Cavalry
questions • Describe some of the similarities shared by Greek and Roman warriors • Explain the differences between Greek helmets and shields versus Roman helmets and shields • What was the panoply and what did the Hoplites take their name from? • Define the phalanx and discuss which elements of the hoplite’s panoply were most important for its effective use in battle
