04-10-2007, 05:40 AM
Hi,
well, I read this "the men don't want to leave their buddies and don't want to look bad in their eyes, and the Greek culture shamed those who behaved cowardly" thing again and again in this discussion. And I agree... to a certain degree. But once again (yes, I know I'm already extremely annoying) I must say: everything has its limits. One important thing happened at the end of (almost) every battle. One side broke and its soldiers (surprisingly) fled. Often only part of the battle line fled, while the rest was still fighting and sometimes they won in spite of the flight of their fellow soldiers. And - we know that most casualties occurred when the winners were pursuing the fleeing enemies. The ancients knew it too. They knew that to flee is more dangerous for soldiers than to remain in formation and fight or retreat orderly. How is this possible that they always fled? Moreover if all the Greeks were so painstakingly trying to support their comrades and not to look cowardly in the eyes of their fellow citizens, why was it important to have the special, brave rear rankers to prevent the escape of the (say) less brave men?
Its simple. Its self-preservation. For many men their lives mattered more than all the glory, honour or shame. In the extremely dreadful and stressful environment of direct battle the men are often driven by their fears and instincts, not by cold logic and social ties and regulations.
Greetings
Alexandr
well, I read this "the men don't want to leave their buddies and don't want to look bad in their eyes, and the Greek culture shamed those who behaved cowardly" thing again and again in this discussion. And I agree... to a certain degree. But once again (yes, I know I'm already extremely annoying) I must say: everything has its limits. One important thing happened at the end of (almost) every battle. One side broke and its soldiers (surprisingly) fled. Often only part of the battle line fled, while the rest was still fighting and sometimes they won in spite of the flight of their fellow soldiers. And - we know that most casualties occurred when the winners were pursuing the fleeing enemies. The ancients knew it too. They knew that to flee is more dangerous for soldiers than to remain in formation and fight or retreat orderly. How is this possible that they always fled? Moreover if all the Greeks were so painstakingly trying to support their comrades and not to look cowardly in the eyes of their fellow citizens, why was it important to have the special, brave rear rankers to prevent the escape of the (say) less brave men?
Its simple. Its self-preservation. For many men their lives mattered more than all the glory, honour or shame. In the extremely dreadful and stressful environment of direct battle the men are often driven by their fears and instincts, not by cold logic and social ties and regulations.
Greetings
Alexandr
