Ariadne: Resources for Athenaze

Chapter14

Images

Persian and Greek soldiers

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	"A bearded Persian lunges to the left, his shield over his forward-extended left arm, his right arm thrown back as he prepares to strike with his axe. He wears a patterned 'body-stocking,' a short, decorative tunic, soft shoes, and a soft cap with dangling pieces flopping over his ears. A quiver hangs by a cord draped over his shoulder."
	"A Greek moves to the right, his shield held on his left shoulder, his spear held ready in his right hand. He wears chlamys, greaves and a domed hat, and he has a straggly beard."
	This gold daric (dated 490-450 BCE) shows the Persian King as an archer and soldier. He holds a bow in his left hand and a lance in his right, while a quiver hangs over his shoulder.
	In this vase, hoplites arm for battle. One puts greaves on his calves, another wraps his chest with a corselet, while another holds a helmet.
	"A youthful Greek advances to right aiming his spear at a bearded Persian, who, having shot an arrow past his adversary, draws back and strives to defend himself with his sword. The Greek wears a crested Attic helmet (decorated on the side with a floral ornament and on the raised cheek-piece with a snake), greaves, and a sword hanging from a cross-belt. The shield on his arm is seen in perspective from within. The Persian is in oriental costume consisting of a cap, with its flaps lowered, a tight-fitting sleeved tunic and trousers. His quiver hangs from a cross-belt." L. D. Caskey, J. D. Beazley, Attic Vase Paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
	In this aerial photograph, you can see the mountains and the middle pass at Thermopylae, where 300 Spartiate soldiers under the command of Leonidas held off the Persians.

Click here for more information on Persian arms and equipment

Photo credits: Nolan Amphora, Berlin F 2331: Side B: scene at center
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz: Antikensammlung.

Gold Daric, Dewing 2710, Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the Dewing Greek Numismatic Foundation.

Attic Red Figure Oinochoe, Boston 13.196: Main panel: Greek and Persian in combat
From Caskey & Beazley, plate XVIII. With permission of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

 

 

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