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ANCIENT WARFARE

VOL IV, ISSUE 6

Royal stalemate: Hellenistic kingdoms at

With: • costume • The of Raphia Also: • ‘Low tech’ and improvised weaponry • Debate: women in Roman forts

€7,10 - £5.99 - US/CN$9.99 And much more!

www.ancient-warfare.com Karwansaray Publishers

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4 NEWS and letters 33 MACEDON’S LAST Publisher: Rolof van Hövell tot Westerflier HURRAH Editorial : Jasper Oorthuys (editor), Eugene Harding (copy), Dirk van Gorp The Third Macedonian War and Website design: Christianne C. Beall THEME Royal stalemate Contributors: David Balfour, Bob Bennett, Guy 38 FIGHTING ON Bowers, Duncan B.Campbell, Ross Cowan, Duncan Head, Mateusz Lobacz, Paul McDonnell-Staff, Michael 6 INTRODUCTION ALL SIDES Park, Ruben Post, Mike Roberts, Michael J. Taylor, Thracian of the Hellenistic era Christopher Webber, Ivo van de Wijdeven. Illustrations: Andrew Brozyna, Igor Dzis, Angel García 10 THE SOURCE Pinto, Brendan Keeley, Carlos de la Rocha, Johnny The regulation Shumate.

Design & layout: © MeSa Design.www.mesadesign.nl e-mail: [email protected] Print: PublisherPartners. www.publisherpartners.com

Editorial office PO Box 4082, 7200 BB Zutphen, The Netherlands. Phone: +44-20-88168281 () 44 STICKS AND STONES +1-740-994-0091 (US). ‘Low tech’ and improvised E-mail: [email protected] Skype: ancient_warfare 14 BRIGHT COLORS Website: www.ancient-warfare.com AND UNIFORMITY Hellenistic military costume Contributions in the form of articles, letters and que- ries from readers are welcomed. Please send to the above address or use the contact form on our website.

Subscription Subscription price is 33.50 euros plus postage surcharge where applicable. 48 THE DEBATE Subscriptions: www.ancient-warfare.com Women in Roman forts or Ancient Warfare PO Box 4082, 7200 BB Zutphen, The Netherlands.

Distribution 20 AT THE EDGE OF Ancient Warfare is sold through selected retailers, HELLENISM museums, the internet and by subscription. If you of the Greeks in Bactria and wish to become a sales outlet, please contact the editorial office or e-mail us: [email protected] 54 REVIEWS Copyright Karwansaray BV, all rights reserved. Books, games and models Nothing in this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent of the publishers. Any individual providing material for publication must ensure they have obtained the correct permissions before submission to us. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders, but in a few cases this proves impossible. The editor and publishers apologize for any unwitting cases of 25 CLIMAX OF THE copyright transgression and would like to hear from SYRIAN any copyright holders not acknowledged. The , 217 BC Articles and the opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the editor and or publishers. Advertising in Ancient Warfare does not 58 ON THE COVER necessarily imply endorsement.

Ancient Warfare is published every two months by Karwansaray BV, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. PO Box 1110, 3000 BC Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

ISSN: 1874-7019

Printed in the European Union

Ancient Warfare 3

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The Othismos Debate

Dear Editor,

I found the Othismos article by Murray Dahm (IV.2) to be quite interesting and I very much appreciate the author’s thorough presentation of the debate, however I am much disappointed by scholarly attempts thus far to explain the phenomenon. It strikes me as obvious that the othismos was a battle tactic, to be employed by the strategos at the time of his choos- ing and signaled – as with most instructions – via instrument. When the othismos is considered with this in mind, there should be no surprise that it would be used early in some and later in others. For example, it would be most reasonable for a strategos to use the othismos early on if his opponent were lightly armored (e.g. against a Persian force) so long as such a move did not expose the flanks of either his as a whole or of individual units. In this case, he would have to wait until the lines were ‘set’ and he felt the enemy was committed entirely. Regarding the issue of individual combat, it seems many Murray Dahm responds historians have had difficulty reconciling the lack of indi- vidual maneuverability within the with the historical Dear Editor, accounts detailing an individual’s combat prowess. To unravel a solution, we first acknowledge (as most historians do) that I agree that scholarly attempts to explain are dissatisfying - if most of a battle’s casualties occurred once an army began to only it was still used in battle we would be much better off! route. Since this is when most of the killing took place, is it not Those scholars who hold to a battle phase model for would also obvious that this is when most individual prowess would probably argue that they have answered the idea of being be displayed? a specific tactic to be introduced at a time of the command- It would be difficult for to chase a broken enemy if er's choosing. That being said, the mechanics of command they maintained the close order and formation of the phalanx within actual battle for most of ancient warfare are little (and if this were the case, casualties for defeated armies would understood. Individual combats could occur after battle and have been quite low in the warfare of Ancient .) The only renown could be won in them - Socrates' actions after Delium way to effectively pursue a broken enemy would be to unleash spring to mind, but, as described, most appear to take place the hoplites like a pack of hounds. Bear in mind, while many (and are expected to take place) during battle and before the of the enemy would be cut down from behind, there would no rout. Hoplomachia was considered useful by some for indi- doubt be individuals or even small groups who would turn vidual combat outside a phalanx-combat situation but this and attempt to defend themselves… and this is when the indi- issue too requires a more satisfactory analysis. vidual could display his prowess. Kind regards Best Regards, Murray Dahm Robert C. Bowden III Friendswood, Texas

Medieval Warfare

Ancient Warfare is about to become a big brother! Magazine will bring you coverage of the next 1000 years of warfare, in the same great style you've come to expect from Ancient Warfare: that means more beautiful, original artwork and insightful articles by a host of knowledgeable authors. Medieval Warfare is expected to be available in the spring of 2011. Until that time, you can visit the website at www.medieval-warfare.com. Editor Dirk van Gorp will be happy to hear your ideas, suggestions and proposals via edi- [email protected]. The postal and visiting address is the same as for Ancient Warfare, mentioned elsewhere on this page.

4 Ancient Warfare

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