Total War Center Forums - Vestigia Vetustatis http://www.twcenter.net/forums/ A place to discuss history. en Sat, 18 May 2013 08:15:24 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/images/y2skin/misc/rss.png Total War Center Forums - Vestigia Vetustatis http://www.twcenter.net/forums/ <![CDATA[Was Roman "evocatio" ever used to seek favor of the Pahlavan / Parthian gods?]]> http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?601098-Was-Roman-quot-evocatio-quot-ever-used-to-seek-favor-of-the-Pahlavan-Parthian-gods&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 05:39:01 GMT As some of you might know, Zoroastrianism wasn't established in the Near East and Persia as a state religion until the coming of the Sassanids. The people living under the Parthian Empire believed in and prayed to a slew of different Iranian deities, oftentimes conflated with Greek ones to give the earlier Seleucids a strong connection to the diverse population they had ruled over.

Parthia was one of Rome's greatest enemies at times. It is known that the Romans employed the religious practice of "evocatio" to invoke the favor of the gods worshipped by their enemies, to invite them to reside in Roman temples and seek their homage. Did they ever apply this ritual to the old Iranian pantheon? ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis Roma_Victrix http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?601098-Was-Roman-quot-evocatio-quot-ever-used-to-seek-favor-of-the-Pahlavan-Parthian-gods Illustrations of 17th century Russians after Olearius http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?601097-Illustrations-of-17th-century-Russians-after-Olearius&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 05:37:58 GMT *Illustrations of 17th century Russians after Olearius:... Illustrations of 17th century Russians after Olearius:
Russian Royal Guard after Olearius
Russian Boyars after Olearius
Russian Regimental Officer after Olearius
Russian Chief Officer after Olearius
Russian Strelets (Streltsi) or Musketeer after Olearius


MIRROR SITE
Illustrations of 17th century Russians after Olearius:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis druzhina345 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?601097-Illustrations-of-17th-century-Russians-after-Olearius Teutonic ,East Prussians and Hansa were not Germans http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?601075-Teutonic-East-Prussians-and-Hansa-were-not-Germans&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 00:03:21 GMT Teutonic order and its vassal kingdom Prussia and Hansa cities have been... Teutonic order and its vassal kingdom Prussia and Hansa cities have been talking not on German but
Low Saxon language,which is in one sub-group with Englsh ,but not German .
Histroically Saxons ,as most of you know inhabitated the area between Denmark and Germany , but due to duke Henry the Lion and his actions against Barbarossa the title of Duke of Saxony was given to Germans in Anhalt ,though they had nothing with Saxons to do .
It has even more added to conffusion .
Then who are Germans ?
Germans are Frankonian and Allemanic Germanics ,who undergone notable language shift in 3-5th AC and whose language
is a source for modern German,Dutch and Swiss German .
Origianal Dutch were talking Frisian related to Anglo-Saxon .
original Swiss were talking Eastern Germanic ,sooner related to North Germanic Scandinavian . ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis Edelfred http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?601075-Teutonic-East-Prussians-and-Hansa-were-not-Germans <![CDATA[Berlin Wall - What's the point ?]]> http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600970-Berlin-Wall-What-s-the-point&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 00:28:10 GMT Recently I watched some docus about The Berlin Wall on NationalG , and they... Recently I watched some docus about The Berlin Wall on NationalG , and they made me confused .
I mean what's the point of it , why try so hard to keep those people in by force . For god sake didn't they took a hint that after 20 years people were still ESCAPING , because life in WG was better .

Instead of scaring the population with Stasi ,big ****ing walls (who were costing billions ?) and killing people , why not try to improve the country's economy with all that money and hard work .

It just doesn't makes any sense to me , if you want to keep someone in and you are trying it with force , which show's to be ineffective ,then why not try something else . ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis The Vitiated Mind http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600970-Berlin-Wall-What-s-the-point Perseus the Greek Hero, Ancestor of the Persians? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600968-Perseus-the-Greek-Hero-Ancestor-of-the-Persians&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 23:55:08 GMT According to Herodotus, a Persian commander said the following to the Greeks... According to Herodotus, a Persian commander said the following to the Greeks during the Persian invasion:

"Men of Argos, King Xerxes speaks thus to you. We Persians deem that the Perses from whom we descend was the child of Perseus the son of Danae, and of Andromeda the daughter of Cepheus. Hereby it would seem that we come of your stock and lineage. So then it neither befits us to make war upon those from whom we spring; nor can it be right for you to fight, on behalf of others, against us. Your place is to keep quiet and hold yourself aloof. Only let matters proceed as I wish, and there is no people whom I shall have in higher esteem than you."

(Histories of Herodotus, 7.150)

What exactly happened in that myth of Perseus? Did the ancient Greeks actually believe in that legend?

I'm not familiar with Greek mythology, I'd appreciate a clarification. :) ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis Shamshir http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600968-Perseus-the-Greek-Hero-Ancestor-of-the-Persians Percentage of death rate of roman army recruits during drill http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600908-Percentage-of-death-rate-of-roman-army-recruits-during-drill&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 13:59:37 GMT As the tittle says, I wonder about percentage of death rate in roman army drill... As the tittle says, I wonder about percentage of death rate in roman army drill ,or how many guys died from hard training. Specific period I'm intrested in is after Marian reforms (107 BC) to Commodus and Crisis of Third Century, roughly 200 AD. ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis Petrucci http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600908-Percentage-of-death-rate-of-roman-army-recruits-during-drill The decline of spike bayonet? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600855-The-decline-of-spike-bayonet&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 04:20:19 GMT I wonder, what is the reason for the decline of spike bayonet after 18th... I wonder, what is the reason for the decline of spike bayonet after 18th Century? Comparing sword bayonet and spike bayonet it is quite clear that spike bayonet is better choice for the role of bayonet (lighter, easier to stab and pull out from body, and can be increase length without adding much weight), so why it was phased out slowly since 19th Century and favored more difficult use sword bayonet? ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis hellheaven1987 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600855-The-decline-of-spike-bayonet Roman colonization of Greece examples http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600677-Roman-colonization-of-Greece-examples&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 21:28:36 GMT I was wondering about the extent the Romans colonize Greek mainland. The only... I was wondering about the extent the Romans colonize Greek mainland.
The only example I am aware of is that of Corinth which was rebuilt by Caesar and was populated by Roman war veterans.
Does anyone have a source or another example of Roman colonization?


http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/...e&name=Corinth
Quote:
The city remained virtually abandoned until Julius Caesar established a colony of veterans on the site in 44 B.C. It became the capital of the Roman province of Achaia in 27 B.C. Extensive rebuilding in the 1st century A.D. included the addition of a forum, large public baths, and an amphitheater. Under Roman patronage Corinth soon reclaimed and exceeded its earlier reputation as the Greek city most noted for luxury, vice, and decadence.
]]> Vestigia Vetustatis neoptolemos http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600677-Roman-colonization-of-Greece-examples Tiger Cannon (cast in 1790-1 AD) of Tipu Sultan of Mysore http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600571-Tiger-Cannon-(cast-in-1790-1-AD)-of-Tipu-Sultan-of-Mysore&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 03:45:20 GMT *Photographs of a barrel of a Tiger Cannon (cast in 1790-1 AD) of Tipu Sultan,... Photographs of a barrel of a Tiger Cannon (cast in 1790-1 AD) of Tipu Sultan, Sultan of Mysore


MIRROR SITE:
A barrel of a Tiger Cannon (cast in 1790-1 AD) of Tipu Sultan, Sultan of Mysore

druzhina345
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis druzhina345 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600571-Tiger-Cannon-(cast-in-1790-1-AD)-of-Tipu-Sultan-of-Mysore Athens the siege expert? http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600567-Athens-the-siege-expert&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 02:58:41 GMT Thucydides mentions in History of the Peloponnesian War that Athens was good at... Thucydides mentions in History of the Peloponnesian War that Athens was good at siege, I wonder what did "good" mean here? Did he mean Athens was good at siege because it could maintain large manpower for siege purpose, hence able to conduct effective blockade, or Athens could field large number of light infantries, which was crucial for storming wall (Xenophon mentioned it in Anabasis that storming wall required light infantries)? ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis hellheaven1987 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600567-Athens-the-siege-expert is george w bush the hero who ended the cold war http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600430-is-george-w-bush-the-hero-who-ended-the-cold-war&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 10:51:40 GMT since george bush began to talk to the russians he changed everything the... since george bush began to talk to the russians he changed everything the berlin wall fell down nations got there freedom back america was allowed to stay in euorpe the russians even said america was a european power (its actually true cause most white americans and even hispanics all have european herritage) the russian actually soviet president found someone who agreed with him its been like 4 years ago since george bush second time in the office ended. actually the soviet Union also fell cause of this great president from connecticut i think he might have won i know he later fought war against sadam but that was right too to free the people he served his country well my question is this true ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis rohan97 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600430-is-george-w-bush-the-hero-who-ended-the-cold-war Bill Slim - Best General of WWII http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600401-Bill-Slim-Best-General-of-WWII&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 03:20:30 GMT ---Quote--- There are solid grounds for asserting that when due allowances...
Quote:
There are solid grounds for asserting that when due allowances have been made… Bill Slim’s encirclement of the Japanese on the Irrawaddy deserves to rank with the great military achievements of all time – Alexander at Gaugamela in 331 BC, Hannibal at Cannae (216 BC), Julius Caesar at Alesia (58 BC), the Mongol general Subudei at Mohi (1241) or Napoleon at Austerlitz (1805). The often made – but actually ludicrous – comparison between Montgomery and Slim is relevant here… there is no Montgomery equivalent of the Irrawaddy campaign. His one attempt to prove himself a master of the war of movement – Operation MARKET GARDEN against Arnhem – was a signal and embarrassing failure. Montgomery was a military talent; Slim was a military genius. - Frank McLynn, The Burma Campaign: Disaster into Triumph.
Bill Slim was hands down the best general of World War II. Not only did he turn around a military disaster in Burma into victory, but he did it with the most disproportionate resources, fighting in the harshest environments, while faced against the most uneven manpower & material odds of any battlefield commander of World War II. And for his gallantry and leadership skills (a general who fought the enemy with his bare hands, and rallied men with his actions, not just his words), I think it’s rather safe to say that Bill Slim was one of the most accomplished generals of all time.

So who is Bill Slim you ask? And why is he so awesome?




Bill Slim, while relatively unknown to history buffs and to the ever present Montgomery band wagon, was the modest, unassuming, yet highly gifted, flexible, and intelligent field marshall of the 14th Army, known simply to his troops as “Uncle Bill.” Slim’s greatest claim to fame was therefore taking command of a forgotten army that even Churchill had written off, and transforming it into a super collective, calm, and effective fighting force capable of defeating the Japanese army, whom nearly everyone at the time considered invincible. And despite the success of other commanders in similar no-win situations, such as Rommel in Africa or Gerorgy Zhukov in Russia, no one prevailed at “off-roading” or improvising victory from the jaws of disaster like Bill Slim did. After accomplishing a 900 mile retreat to India through a hostile jungle environment (something that Alexander & Napoleon would surely suck at) Slim retrofitted Burma Corps with the tactics & strategies they would need to turn the tide. Among his two greatest tactical feats were the “admin boxes” and use of Chindit special forces. Chindit forces were used extensively by Slim to create havoc and act as decoys while major maneuvers took place. Meanwhile, the admin boxes were the evolution of the British Square, allowing the British to be surrounded by the more numerous Japanese but never outflanked, cargo planes would then reinforce these boxes with supplies and provisions as the Japanese exhausted themselves with overextended supply lines. But given Slim’s lack of experience in jungle combat, it is a testament to the man’s genius and adaptability that he was able to rebound using these tactics and again re-seize the initiative.

At the battle of Irrawaddy, considered by many to be Slim’s masterpiece battle alongside the greatest in history, Slim was once again faced with ill suitable material to mount an assault (let alone a crossing) against entrenched opposition. Yet, despite being outnumbered and outgunned, while also conducting an operation in the middle of a monsoon season, Slim masterfully deceived his enemy by dividing his army, using regiments and sentries to cause confusion as to where he would actually strike. With the Japanese command structure in disarray, he then preceded to cross the Irrawaddy with the whole of his army with anything that could float and carry a tank or a foot soldier. With the successful encirclement of the Japanese army complete, Slim rightfully took his place in history, having done what Montgomery did at the Rhine but with considerably less of everything.

It has been said a great general gains victory through his success on the battlefield, yet only Bill Slim could win a victory out of nothing. And for that, I award Bill Slim the title of Greatest General of World War II. ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis Dick Cheney. http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600401-Bill-Slim-Best-General-of-WWII Niccolo Machiavelli http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600337-Niccolo-Machiavelli&goto=newpost Sun, 12 May 2013 14:27:13 GMT Just wondering if anyone know what made Machiavelli write "The Prince". What was the specific reason why he wrote it? I know it was caused by the political situation, but I am not quite sure WHY he decided to write it based on the political turmoil. Anyone care to elaborate if you have any ideas? ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis The Norseman http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600337-Niccolo-Machiavelli Hoplon Shield reconstruction project http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600331-Hoplon-Shield-reconstruction-project&goto=newpost Sun, 12 May 2013 13:29:55 GMT For some time I have considered reconstructing a full size replica Hoplon... For some time I have considered reconstructing a full size replica Hoplon Shield, after clearing a load of other jobs from the list I have decided to undertake the project and I'm gonna document the process here on TWC with a mind to sharing any problems that arise and also as a guide for any other History Lovers with a passion for Carpentry to replicate.

After some cursory investigations on the web I found a number of differing methods ranging the layer build technique to the turning of a large solid block on timber to create a replica Hoplon, without possessing a wood lathe or turning equipment in my own modest workshop I elected to choose the layer build technique as laid down on this Reenactment site,

http://www.larp.com/hoplite/hoplon.html

This method requires you to cut out six layers that once laid upon top of one another and fixed together by Glue will form the body of the shield, from there I will have to sand down the square edges to create the chamfered curved edges of the Hoplon, This will take alot of work on my part but I'm gonna keep the thread updated as I continue the Construction. In terms of decorating the Hoplon I have decided to attempt to decorate with the Hoplon with the Owl of Athens that represents Athens patron Diety Athena, funnily enough this image comes from the Hegemonia City States mod that I had the good fortune to do a Little research work on,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 




The measurements for the series of Radius are as follows,








































LAYER
 INNER RADIUS
 OUTER RADIUS
1
 solid
 8-1/8"
2
 5-3/8"
 11-13/16"
3
 10-1/2"
 13-5/8"
4
 13-1/16"
 14-3/8"
5
 14"
 14-5/8"
6
 14-3/8"
 14-3/4"
RIM
 14-3/8"
 17-1/4"


If your like me and from the UK or the EU you'll probably find working in Imperial Measurements a little alien as most marking out work is now done in Metric, I found this converter for die hard Metric fans,

http://www.sandpaper.com/resources/i...hes_to_Mil.pdf

However with wanting to keep this as simple as possible I decided upon embracing Imperial and got my head around the fractions with this handy image,



To build the Hoplon you will need a number of Tools, A square and Tape Measure for marking out, A Jigsaw, An Electric Planer, Belt Sander and Angle Grinder with Soft Flap Wheel for sanding down the Shield.

The Shield it self once complete will be quite hefty, a total 34" Radius with 5" Depth according to the design specification on the afore mentioned Website, the first job would be the create the templates that I would use to mark out the sections of the ply. Unfortunately I do not own a trammel tool for drawing out large circumferences at this time so I decided to create my own jig that would allow me to draw the inside and outside radius, this would also allow to easily recreate a template should I come into problems later. To construct the Jig I used some left over 35mm Square, going from the good edge of the 35mm square I first used a Square to mark the center of the wood with a pencil,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



From there I measured 20mm from the good edge of the timber, marking it with a Square and drawing a line Horizontally across to mark 20mm from the good edge,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



I then drove a nail through the point where the vertical center line and the 20mmhorizontal line met, this nail would act as pivot point for marking the circumferences of the Layers and also as a datum point for the holes that I would place in the wood to allow a pencil to mark the Radius.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



I then glued the Nail into position with super glue to keep it in position,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



I then placed the wood into a work mate to begin to mark out the various Radius, to keep it simple I decided to use one piece for the Outside Radius and one piece for the inside Radius. Using a tape measure and the nail head a center datum I began to mark out the radius lengths,

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



Once I had marked out the various Radius lengths I again used the sqaure to mark the hole Centers, I also marked the measurement and the layer number to prevent confusion when it comes to marking out the templates, at this point it's worth mentioning that at the 13-14" area alot of the centers were close (Luckily 14 - 3/8" is on both radius) so by putting 14 - 3/8" on one jig and 14 - 5/8 on the other I was able to spread the centers. For the 14 - 3/4" radius I used a third piece of wood with a single hole at 14 - 3/4".

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



Once all the hole centers had been marked out and labelled I secured the wood into a Workmate, clamping or a vice would also be suitable and began to drill the holes. I began with a 3mm Pilot before moving up to a 5 and finally 7.5mm hole, by staggering the holes it keeps them accurate. The 7.5mm hole allows a pencil to sit in the hole snugly thus making out the circumfrence of the templates easier.


Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 


After all the holes are done my 3 jigs are complete, took around 30 mins to complete this stage.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 



The next stage will be to mark out the templates in perperation for cutting the 3/4" ply. As soon as the Hardware store open tomorrow I'll pick up some brown paper for ther templates and begin the marking out process. ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis grouchy13 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600331-Hoplon-Shield-reconstruction-project Thessaly Military Organization http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600146-Thessaly-Military-Organization&goto=newpost Sat, 11 May 2013 04:23:42 GMT I am wondering how Thessaly organized its military, a few things I know about... I am wondering how Thessaly organized its military, a few things I know about Thessaly:

1. It was a feudal/oligarchy society with a similar social class system as Sparta; the citizens were nobles and provided most military force, while the free men and serfs were not.

2. It was largely composed by four political zones under four different noble family.

3. It had best cavalry in ancient Greece (still not as good as Persian cavalries however :surprise:).

I wonder under such social system, how did the military system of Thessaly work? ]]> Vestigia Vetustatis hellheaven1987 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?600146-Thessaly-Military-Organization