Hoplite: The Remarkable Citizen-Soldier of Ancient Greece
Introduction The Greek word for military equipment roughly translates to hopla, and thus a hoplite simply meant ‘man at arms’ or ‘armored man’. Of course,…
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The Mighty Macedonian Phalanx: 6 Things You Should Know
By the very intrinsic nature of the Greek lands and topography, large-scale cavalry forces were never an option for most burgeoning city-states of Greece. This…
The Ancient Egyptian Soldiers of the New Kingdom
Introduction The New Kingdom of Egypt, roughly corresponding to the period between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC (encompassing the 18th, 19th,…
15 Powerful Ancient Celtic Gods and Goddesses
Introduction to Celtic Mythology When it comes to the ancient Celts, the scope is not really about a singular group of people who dominated some…
Mamluks: The Incredible Islamic Slave-Warriors of Egypt
Introduction Often overshadowed by the exploits of the Ottomans in Europe and the Near East, it should be noted however that it was the Mamluks…
History of the Aztec Warriors: The Grim Fighters of Mexico
From the etymological perspective, the term Aztec is derived from Aztlan (or ‘Place of Whiteness’ in connotative meaning), the mythological place of origin for the…
Cossacks: The Remarkable Military Settlers of Russia and Ukraine
Our popular notions about the Cossacks tended to portray them as the energetic and rambunctious horsemen of the lower steppe from Russia and Ukraine. And…
Varangian Guard: 12 Things You Should Know
Introduction Exotic, ferocious, and heavily armored – this, in a nutshell, defined the eminent presence of the Varangian Guard (Greek: Τάγμα των Βαράγγων, Tágma tōn…
Battle of Thermopylae: 10 Misconceptions You Should Know
Popular culture has been kind to the historical episode of the Battle of Thermopylae, but with romanticized anecdotes intertwined between the actual events that took…
Spartans: The Fascinating Warrior Society of Ancient Greece
Introduction The subject of Spartans has been much discussed and showcased in the realm of popular culture. And while some of them have a historical…
