03-20-2024, 02:01 PM
(03-20-2024, 07:55 AM)John1 Wrote: Forcibus Topography = A narrow valley of singular direction with sufficiently steep sides to have a significant impact on how light troops can manoeuvre. I understand the literal meaning to be "throat" but that could be something to pass through or something that dead ends, as in a stomach. Dead end where anything coming in gets mushed up drenched in acid and sent on it's way as fertilizer...... it's an alimentary interpretation that works quite well for a closed valley....
I certainly agree with the 'narrow valley' part of this and you are right that the literal meaning of fauces is 'throat'. It can also mean 'pharynx' or 'gullet'. However, when applied to topography, it means a 'narrow way', 'defile' or 'pass' and, in nautical terms, a strait. Tacitus' fauces is 'closed' in the sense of the rear being blocked by a wood but the natural interpretation of his wording is that of a valley that, but for the wood, would have been a through way. If he had wanted to refer to a closed valley, he could have used a term such as 'vallis clausa'.
Literally, 'forcibus topography' means 'in the defile' topography but I am not sure that that is what you mean. I have a recollection that you once posted an image of Suetonius' dispositions that was somewhat different. Could I trouble you to re-post it to save me having to engage in an interminable search of this thread?
Michael King Macdona
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
And do as adversaries do in law, -
Strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
(The Taming of the Shrew: Act 1, Scene 2)
