For the glory of Rome : a history of warriors and warfare /
Cowan, Ross,author.
The legionaries of Ancient Rome are often cited as the original professional soldiers and are famed for their iron discipline. But they were also formidable individual fighters who gloried in single combat, taking heads and despoiling their enemies. They were men who believed they were sired by a god of war, driven by the need to sustain heroic reputations, and who disrobed in public to display battle scars. These same men also read philosophy, wrote history and recited poetry. in this eye-opening study, the author explores the deeds and mindset of twarriorsriors, examining their motivation, beliefs and superstitions, to illuminate why they fought and died for the glory of Rome.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-279) and index (pages 280-287)
List of illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Preface to 2017 edition -- Introduction -- The Pyrrhic War -- Divine intervention -- Single combat -- Warlords and their warriors -- Warriors and poets -- Epilogue -- Abbreviations -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.
The legionaries of Ancient Rome are often cited as the original professional soldiers and are famed for their iron discipline. But they were also formidable individual fighters who gloried in single combat, taking heads and despoiling their enemies. They were men who believed they were sired by a god of war, driven by the need to sustain heroic reputations, and who disrobed in public to display battle scars. These same men also read philosophy, wrote history and recited poetry. in this eye-opening study, the author explores the deeds and mindset of twarriorsriors, examining their motivation, beliefs and superstitions, to illuminate why they fought and died for the glory of Rome.
Soldiers
Military art and science