Aeneas Tacticus

Time 2022-10-23 19:42:07

Web Name: Aeneas Tacticus

WebSite: http://www.aeneastacticus.net

ID:363839

Keywords:

Aeneas,Tacticus

Description:

News:

New edition of Aeneas Tacticus: first German translation
Kai Brodersen (2017), Tusculum editionSite Updates:
The whole text is now available in English and Greek.

Welcome!

This is the website for all things Aeneas Tacticus.

Includes the whole text in Greek and English.

Who was Aeneas Tacticus?

Aeneas (or Aineias) wrote the first ‘how to’ book in western literature, the Poliorketika, or How To Survive Under Siege. He lived in the fourth-century BC and provides us with a unique insight into the lives of Greek communities at his time. His work deserves more attention.

Read more about Aeneas and his book.

This website is here to spread the word about Aeneas and his work.

The Poliokretika is by turns serious, informative, sinister, innovative, political, psychological, surprising, eccentric, wacky and sometimes hilarious.

But it lets you never forget what can happen when a few hundred (perhaps a few thousand) people get in the way of an aggressive enemy. Nothing less than survival is at stake. Yet, Aeneas’ commander not only fights the enemy outside the gates, he also has to be worried about traitors on the inside. Moreover, he has to achieve his goals with modest supplies of competent troops and quality equipment, and he contends with the need to keep morale, food and basic resources in steady supply.

This is not the impressive stuff of epics or grand conquest: Aeneas deals with a situation much closer to a common, brutal reality in ancient Greece: he shows us what needs to be done when a group of people who'd rather get on with their normal lives are forced to fight for survival.

Have a go, read a few extracts and see for yourself.

Aims of this website:

Offering information about Aeneas Tacticus to anybody who is interested.Giving visitors an idea of what the text is like.To offer, for the first time online, the full text in English translation.To offer some commentary and additional information, particularly for non-expert readers.Spreading the word about anything Aeneas-related going on around the worldBringing together people with a special interest in Aeneas’ work.Attracting people with related interests (e.g. siege warfare in other historical periods) To start a dialogue about the wider themes addressed in Aeneas’ work.

Who should read this site, and look in now and then for updates?

Anyone with an interest in any of the following:Ancient Greek historyLife in the many small towns of ancient GreeceLife in small communities the world overPre-modern warfareSieges and the plight of communities under siegeAncient technologyThe history of military and technical literature... but you might discover that even if you do not have any of those specific interests, Aeneas' book is simply a fascinating read!

This website was first set up in 2010, in the process of organisating a conference on Aeneas Tacticus.
You can see the details here

created 04/02/2010 - updated 05/07/2017

TAGS:Aeneas Tacticus

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