phalangitai... too few spears?

[Mindaros]

no not lowered (as in deployed for combat). the text i read said they actually dropped them to the ground and fought with swords instead.

Yes, but was the text written by Polybius or by Livy?

[tarem]

Yes, but was the text written by Polybius or by Livy?

i've been searching through the bibliography and i'm still not sure. the author uses Badian E. as a refference who in turn mentiones Polybius, but can't tell if it's direct translation or an interpretation from another hystorian

[Mindaros]

i've been searching through the bibliography and i'm still not sure. the author uses Badian E. as a refference who in turn mentiones Polybius, but can't tell if it's direct translation or an interpretation from another hystorian

The source would be useful to know, since iirc it is in that battle that Livy makes the translation error.

[tarem]

The source would be useful to know, since iirc it is in that battle that Livy makes the translation error.

i finally located the source used in the book on the net:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20948552/B...oscephalae-197

and

http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy33.html

it seams you were right, it looks like the translation you mentioned