Research Catalog

Title

The cavalry of classical Greece : a social and military history with particular reference to Athens / I.G. Spence.

Author

Spence, I. G.

Publication

Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1993.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

xxxiv, 346 p., [8] p. of plates : ill., maps; 23 cm.

Summary

• This book is the first to examine how classical Greek cavalry actually operated on the battlefield. It looks at the prime characteristics of Greek cavalry, including mobility, protection, armament, training, leadership, flexibility, and motivation. Up to now it has usually been assumed that ancient Greek cavalry was subordinated to the infantry because it was less effective in battle. This book challenges this assumption, analysing the position of Greek cavalry, and especially the Athenian arm, not only on the battlefield but in society as a whole. It concludes that, like many modern societies, Greek states produced military arms which were moulded more by social and economic influences than by purely military considerations.
• Classical Greek cavalry had a high combat potential, but this was reduced by the attitudes of the rest of society towards the cavalry class - the wealthiest and most aristocratic group in most states.

Subject

• Greece. Stratos > History
• Cavalry > Greece > History
• Greece > History

Genre/Form

History

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [319]-323) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Greek Cavalry c.500-300 -- The Combat Potential of the Hippeis -- The Theory and Practice of Cavalry Warfare c.450-300 -- The Hippeis and Society -- Attic Red- and White-Figure Vases with Equestrian Scenes c.530-300 -- Attic Equestrian Reliefs -- The Parthenon Frieze -- The Cost of Cavalry Service at Athens -- A Prosopography of the Athenian Hippeis c.500-300 -- The Hipparch eis Lemnon.

ISBN

0198144822 (acid-free paper)

LCCN

^^^93000442^

OCLC

27728671

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library