Ancient Warfare Blog

Ancient Warfare Answers episode 24 (131): Stripping the dead

This entry was posted on February 1, 2021 by Jasper Oorthuys.

We often read of armies using the equipment of their former enemies. Hannibal's army after Cannae is especially thought to have done so. Did that... Read more

War elephants in North Africa

This entry was posted on January 29, 2021 by Jona Lendering.

Statuette of a war elephant from Pompeii (c) Livius.org In his description of the battle of Raphia (217 B.C.), the Greek historian Polybius claims that... Read more

Ancient Warfare Answers episode 23 (130): Roman wedges

This entry was posted on January 28, 2021 by Jasper Oorthuys.

The Roman Imperial army is often described as consisting of a line of wedges, almost like a sawtooth. How did that work? Enjoy the podcast... Read more

Podcast episode 133: Coups, successes and failures

This entry was posted on January 27, 2021 by Jasper Oorthuys.

For our January 'in-between-issues' podcast, we decided just after New Year's Day we'd look at coups, successful and failed, and what makes them so.  Enjoy... Read more

Ancient Warfare Answers episode 22 (129): Storing money, or not.

This entry was posted on January 26, 2021 by Jasper Oorthuys.

Cicero famously called money the "sinews of war". It was needed to pay soldiers, hire mercenaries, buy food and other supplies, but how was it... Read more

Ancient Warfare Answers episode 21 (127): Last stands

This entry was posted on December 18, 2020 by Jasper Oorthuys.

There are many notorious 'last stands', but what is a last stand? Enjoy the podcast? Support us via Patreon, now with optional magazine subscription as... Read more

Ancient Warfare Answers episode 20 (126): The aftermath of battle

This entry was posted on December 17, 2020 by Jasper Oorthuys.

We received a compound question about what happened right after the completion of battle. We tried to answer most of them... Enjoy the podcast? Support... Read more

Podcast episode 128: Sieges and Fortifications

This entry was posted on December 16, 2020 by Jasper Oorthuys.

Ancient Warfare XIV.3 is out, so it's time for another podcast. Myke Cole, Murray Dahm, Marc DeSantis, Marc McCaffery, Lindsay Powell and I gather to... Read more

Ancient Warfare Answers episode 19 (125): Celts fighting the phalanx

This entry was posted on December 15, 2020 by Jasper Oorthuys.

The Celts were known for their ferocious frontal attack, and the Greek phalanx was known for being impervious to frontal attacks. How did the Greeks... Read more

Euripides and the battle of Delium

This entry was posted on November 25, 2020 by Murray Dahm.

In our accounts of the battle of Delium, or Delion, fought between Athens and Thebes in winter 424 BC, both Thucydides (4.93-96) and Diodorus (12.70.1-5... Read more