The horror of ancient warfare

**Gleemonex** · 01-16-2009, 05:31

Originally Posted by belliger

and - of course -, if you don't have done it yet, the novel by

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

. his 'gates of fire' (about the thermopylae) is absolutely unbelievable.

bye

Good post and good suggestions (overall). But I have to take issue with "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield.

I was so excited when I heard about this book -- I find the premise extremely enticing. But when I read the sample on his site, I could have sworn he had stolen the cast of Full Metal Jacket and dropped them into Ancient Greece. All the "chow" and "hooah" and bitching and moaning were straight out of Vietnam Flicks 101. Even as a modern Canadian I found it jarring and tacky. Imagine trying to put it in the perspective of an Ancient Greek.

If someone ever translates it from "1960s Marine" into "English" (or any other actual language), let me know.

-Glee

**Dutchhoplite** · 01-16-2009, 07:04

His book on Alexander's campaign in Afghanistan suffers from the same with the Macedonians calling themselves "Maks".

And i want to mention the last book of the "Gallic wars". Aulus Hirtius added an eighth book to Caesars work and he's unable or unwilling to hide the atrocities and less than glorious actions during the last phase of this war.

**mirmorix** · 01-16-2009, 15:42

Also the books from Valerio Massimo Manfredi are very interesting. I have trilogy about Alex the Great and Tyrant /i dont know if its true name of this book in english/ - its about life od Dionysius I. who fight for whole life against Qarthadast in Sicily.

**Dutchhoplite** · 01-16-2009, 16:32

Dionysius I of Syracuse ;)

**Tyrfingr** · 01-16-2009, 16:52

I used to know a guy who fled the terrors of Rwanda during the mid 90s and his stories and experiences...well, they're not meant for mortal ears and minds. Hand to hand fighting with large machetes, gang rapes and slaughtering of civilians...I guess warfare of the ancient were much alike.

This guy, he had killed too...lots of people, just for being of the wrong tribe.

**antisocialmunky** · 01-18-2009, 03:36

Originally Posted by Jaertecken

I used to know a guy who fled the terrors of Rwanda during the mid 90s and his stories and experiences...well, they're not meant for mortal ears and minds. Hand to hand fighting with large machetes, gang rapes and slaughtering of civilians...I guess warfare of the ancient were much alike.

This guy, he had killed too...lots of people, just for being of the wrong tribe.

Ancient Feuds exacerbated by Imperialism and played on by the Politicians....

War, war never changes.