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Why Did Helmets Have Crests?
Episode 401
Responding to a recent episode of the main Ancient Warfare podcast, Eric writes in to ask about the purpose of the crest on helmets worn by ancient G…
2 days, 20 hours ago
AW400 - Warriors in Bronze
Episode 400
Bronze helmets, greaves, armour, and bronze-faced shields make for an impressive army, but who fought in all that kit, next to whom, and how?
In the …
1 week, 2 days ago
Outflanking as a Tactical Innovation
Episode 399
Following an earlier episode in which Murray suggested that warfare was often conceived as frontal and honourable, Peter writes in with a response. H…
2 weeks, 2 days ago
Turning to Face an Outflank
Episode 398
John asks whether there are historical examples of a formation being outflanked where the troops on the threatened flank turn to engage the attacker,…
3 weeks, 2 days ago
Athenian Archers
Episode 397
Samuel asks about Athenian archers at the start of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides lists significant numbers of them in 431 and it raises a series …
1 month ago
Revolutions in Warfare
Episode 396
What counts as a true revolution in warfare? In this episode, the panel tackles the idea of sudden and radical change on the ancient battlefield. Rat…
1 month, 1 week ago
Gladiators and the Roman Army
Episode 395
Alexis asks about the connection between the Roman military and gladiators. Why did the army build and use its own amphitheatres, like the one at Car…
1 month, 2 weeks ago
War Pigs
Episode 394
Ancient sources claim that pigs were sometimes used as weapons against war elephants. Murray examines the origins of this idea, whether it ever occur…
1 month, 3 weeks ago
How long were bronze helmets used?
Episode 393
Listener question from TheSgruby: He asks, "How long were bronze helmets in use? Even after better materials appeared, they seem to have lasted a sur…
1 month, 3 weeks ago
AW392 - Crossing the Rubicon
Episode 392
On 10 January 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River, a decision that would trigger civil war and reshape the Roman world. But what did this …
2 months ago