Tarentine Horseman of Magna Graecia 430–190 BC

by Fields, Nic; Ó’Brógáin, Seán

• ISBN13: 9781846032790
• ISBN10: 1846032792
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-10-21
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Summary

The Taras were the leading power of the scattered Greek states of southern Italy and built their reputation on the unmatched horse warriors who helped the Taras claim and maintain their power. These horsemen, who excelled in valor and wealth not only served on their home soil, but were in great demand abroad and were often exported as mercenaries. In this book, expert author Nic Fields examines the Taras horsemen in detail, using rare artifacts and contemporary sources to create an account which reveals the day to day lives of these warriors together with their experiences in battle. Fields discusses the Taras tactics, weapons and equipment, detailing how they bred the horses that were so essential to their success. He goes on to reveal how their prowess extended to beyond the battlefield in the arena of tribal games. With a wealth of contemporary sources and rare artifacts illustrated with specially commissioned color artwork and rare photographs, this is an intriguing insight into the everyday lives of these horsemen and reveals how they acquired the skills that made them so crucial to the Taras' fate.

Author Biography

Dr Nic Fields started his career as a biochemist before joining the Royal Marines. Having left the military, he went back to university and completed a BA and PhD in Ancient History at the University of Newcastle. He was Assistant Director at the British School at Athens, Greece, and then a lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Edinburgh. Nic is now a freelance author and researcher based in south-west France. The author lives in France.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 4
The Origins of the Horsemen of Taras	p. 8
Confronting the barbarians: Taras at War
The Role of the Horsemen of Taras	p. 14
Chronology	p. 18
Recruitment	p. 20
Equipment and Appearance	p. 26
Shields
Body Armour
Helmets
Javelins
Swords
Horses
Grooms
Weapons Handling
Life on Campaign	p. 40
Pay and conditions
Feeding the map
Feeding the horse
Sleep
Battle	p. 51
Museum Collections	p. 54
Pottery
Coinage
Glossary	p. 62
Bibliography	p. 62
Index	p. 64
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.