Greek Trireme c 500 BC
These boats were so light and unstable (due to their narrow beam) that the rowers, of which there were 170, were expected to throw javelins and sling stones from a sitting position. The rowers were not slaves but highly trained professionals drawn from the lower classes. The hoplites were middle class and the archers mercenary Scythians. Phoenician vessels were higher than Greek ones, and carried more marines.
The Hepteres (Septieme) c 300 BC
The ‘sixes’ and ‘sevens’ of Demetrius represented as big an advance in naval warfare as the introduction of Dreadnoughts in modern times. The increased size in conjunction with frames carried round the water-line made them much less vulnerable to ramming while increasing the weight of their own blows. More marines also conferred an advantage in a boarding fight.
Scythian archers, such as this typical one, were recruited by the Athenian tyrant Pisistratus in the mid-sixth century BC and served as mercenaries alongside the Athenian hoplites. They also acted as a police force within the city.
A typical hoplite of the Persian Wars (c 480 BC). Thus equipped and partly covered by his neighbour’s shield, the warrior is protected from head to foot and has a formidable reach with his long spear. Such men defended Thermopylae, fought as marines at Salamis, and won Plataea.
The oxybeles (bolt shooter) (c 375 BC) was larger and more powerful than earlier catapults and had an even more powerful bow, which was drawn back by a winch and levers.
The earliest torsion-powdered oxybeles (c 340 BC). Such machines were known by the general katapeltes, literally shield-piercer, because they were capable of penetrating a man’s shield and armour at ranges in excess of 1/4 mile (400 metres).
These machines, lithobolos (stone throwers) (c 340 BC), threw stones of 10lb (4.5kg) to 180lb (82kg) in weight. Such machines were capable of stripping battlements from fortified walls at point-blank range.
The Heliopolis at Rhodes (304 BC)
Siege towers had existed since Assyrian times, but this was the largest one of ancient times at 130-140ft (40-43m) high and with a base 72ft (22m) square. In action it was brought up within missile range of the walls, supplying suppressing fire against the defenders. The large stone-thrower could even destroy ramparts and curtain-walls.
Alexander was so impressed by Porus’ elephants that he incorporated them into his own army. The elephant’s main advantages in battle were its size and the sheer terror it inspired. The elephant shown is typical of the period 280-200 BC. The tower consists of a padded saddle on top of which is a rawhide-covered frame.
Etruscan helmets. ‘Chalcidean’ helmet, fifth century BC; local Italian helmet, the ‘Negau’, 500-200 BC; ‘Negau’ helmet with large cheek-pieces.
Samnite helmets. A typical ‘attic’ helmet c 400 BC; with wings and feathers typical of southern Italy; an example of the composite ‘Thraco-Attic’ type.
Roman helmets. The three most popular types of the third century BC: ‘Etruso-Corinthian’, ‘Attic’ and ‘Montefortino’.
The legionary shield developed from the traditional curved scutum (far left) in use in Italy from the seventh century BC. The other four shown first came into use c 10 BC, c AD 20, c AD 40 and c AD 150 respectively.
At the end of the civil wars Augustus inherited a vast number of legions, auxiliaries and allies. He reduced them to 28 legions, plus an equivalent number of auxiliaries. This illustration shows a legionary c AD 20.
A common soldier of c AD 75-100. His helmet is of the type known as ‘Imperial-Gallic’ and his armour is of the segmented style which came into service around AD 30-40. The scutum now has straight sides.
The Huns were a Mongoloid nomad people who lived on the steppes of Central Asia. Around AD 370 they began to migrate, and launched a series of savage attacks on the Goths, who in turn crossed the Danube into Thrace. The Huns, who were superb horsemen, depended chiefly on their herds of livestock for food, clothing and their other needs. The warrior shown here is fairly typical, with woollen tunic and trousers, and a jacket, leggings and cap made of goatskin. His horse is of the hardy Steppe breed, which still survives today.