Religion & Classical Warfare: Archaic and Classical Greece

by Christopher Matthew, Matthew Dillon, Michael Schmitz

Overview

Religion was integral to the conduct of war in the ancient world and the Greeks were certainly no exception.

Religion was integral to the conduct of war in the ancient world and the Greeks were certainly no exception. No campaign was undertaken, no battle risked, without first making sacrifice to propitiate the appropriate gods (such as Ares, god of War) or consulting oracles and omens to divine their plans. Yet the link between war and religion is an area that has been regularly overlooked by modern scholars examining the conflicts of these times. This volume addresses that omission by drawing together the work of experts from across the globe. The chapters have been carefully structured by the editors so that this wide array of scholarship combines to give a coherent, comprehensive study of the role of religion in the wars of the Archaic and Classical Greek world.

Aspects considered in depth will include: Greek writers on religion and war; declarations of war; fate and predestination, the sphagia and pre-battle sacrifices; omens, oracles and portents, trophies and dedications to cult centers; militarized deities; sacred truces and festivals; oaths and vows; religion & Greek military medicine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473834293
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	11/20/2020
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher Matthew has just completed his doctoral thesis on hoplite warfare at MacQuarie University in Sydney, where one of his assessors has said he 'singlehandedly advanced the whole field'. He has also been invited to lecture on the subject at other Australian universities. This book, closely based on his doctoral thesis, will be his first, although he has already had several articles published in academic journals. 'He is currently working on a new translation of Aelian's work on tactics and co-editing (with Dr Matthew Trundle) Beyond the Gates of Fire: New Perspectives on the Battle of Thermopylae, both of which will be published by Pen & Sword.

Dr Matthew Dillon is Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of New England, New South Wales, Australia. His previous works include The Ancient Greeks in their own Words (2002).

Dr Michael Schmitz is a lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of New England, New South Wales, Australia.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations of Ancient Sources ix

Abbreviations of Modem Works xiv

Spelling of Ancient Names and Terms xviii

Notes on Contributors xix

List of Figures xxiv

Preface xxvii

Introduction: New Perspectives on Classical Greek Religion and Warfare Matthew Dillon xxviii

Chapter 1 Religion and Warfare in Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon Bruce LaForse 1

Chapter 2 The Role of Religion in Declarations of War in Archaic and Classical Greece Matthew Trundle 31

Chapter 3 Omens, Oracles and Portents: Divine Guidance in Warfare Sonya Nevin 45

Chapter 4 Oaths and Vows: Binding the Gods to One's Military Success Ian Plant 71

Chapter 5 Sacred Truces and Festivals Interrupting War: Piety or Manipulation? Ian Rutherford 100

Chapter 6 Militarizing the Divine: The Bellicosity of the Greek Gods Matthew Dillon 120

Chapter 7 Epiphanies in Classical and Hellenistic Warfare Lara 0'Sullivan 163

Chapter 8 Fate, Predestination and the Mindset of the Greek Hoplite in Battle Christopher Matthew 197

Chapter 9 Thanking the Gods and Declaring Victory: Trophies and Dedications in Classical Greek Warfare Michael Schmitz 227

Chapter 10 Magic and Religion in Military Medicine of Classical Greece Matthew Gonzales 262

Index 288

Editorial Reviews

The volume makes an excellent impression by its presentation. The chapters are well designed, well written. They are based on a careful and attentive reading of the ancient sources, including illustrated ones… very rich and well established.

ARYS

A work of meticulous and detailed scholarship, Religion & Classical Warfare: Archaic and Classical Greece must be considered as a core addition to community, college, and university library Antiquarian Greek History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Midwest Book Review