Marching and Physical Training The first thing the soldiers were taught to do, was to march. The historian Vegetius tells us that it was seen as of greatest importance to the Roman army that its soldiers could march at speed. Any army which would be split up by stragglers at the back or soldiers trundling …
Whether it’s Wadget or Apep from Egypt, Asclepius from Greece, Midgard or the Australian Rainbow Snake, Snake Gods are prevelant in ancient mythologies from all around the world. Feared by many people today, many ancients saw serpents as deities, both good and evil. The stories and representations of these gods remain as fascinating as ever. …
War: What is it good for? Although the question has been tossed around for eons, there is no cookie-cutter answer. Certainties are thrown out the window. There is guarantee of surviving the next battle, of seeing a white flag wave, or of drinking from the victor’s cup; cold hard truths such as these have stirred …
The Fleet The Roman Navy was always considered an inferior arm and was strictly under army control. But already during the First Punic War, Rome proved itself capable of launching a fleet capable of checking an established naval power such as Carthage. Romans were no sailors though. They had no knowledge of ship building. Their …
Flourishing more than 3,000 years ago (c. 1,000 BC to c. 300 BC), ancient Greece, thanks to its many contributions to human culture, was one of the most successful ancient civilizations in history. And it remains a model civilization even today. However, the history of ancient Greece is not entirely rosy. While committed to intellectual …
Siege Tactics In conducting sieges the Romans showed their practical genius combined with ruthless thoroughness. If a place could not be overcome by the initial assaults or the inhabitants persuaded to surrender, it was practice of the Roman army to surround the whole area with a defensive wall and ditch and spread their units around …