09-30-2012, 06:41 AM
Plutarch describes the defensive works constructed by the Spartans when Pyrrhus came against their city as a trench some 240 m long with carts firmly set in the ground on both its "sides". The description is in Plutarch's Life of Pyrrhus, ch 27 and the attack against it is ch 28. Now, my question is what the shape of these works is in your opinion...
c
c
c........................c c c
t..........ctc...............t
t..........ctc...............t...(c=carts, t=trench)
t..........ctc...............t
c........................c c c
c
c
The fact that Pyrrhus' son with 2,000 Gauls and Chaonians came around the trench and tried to attack and climb over the carts makes me go for option nr 3. Another clue that goes against option nr. 2 is that there are no carts mentioned in the attack of Pyrrhus' infantry against the trench. But then,when the troops with Ptolemy are attacked by the Spartans of Acrotatos on the rear, they fall among the carts and into the trench. Later on, Plutarch has Pyrrhus ride past the trench and the carts...
Take a look at the text and tell me your opinions....
c
c
c........................c c c
t..........ctc...............t
t..........ctc...............t...(c=carts, t=trench)
t..........ctc...............t
c........................c c c
c
c
The fact that Pyrrhus' son with 2,000 Gauls and Chaonians came around the trench and tried to attack and climb over the carts makes me go for option nr 3. Another clue that goes against option nr. 2 is that there are no carts mentioned in the attack of Pyrrhus' infantry against the trench. But then,when the troops with Ptolemy are attacked by the Spartans of Acrotatos on the rear, they fall among the carts and into the trench. Later on, Plutarch has Pyrrhus ride past the trench and the carts...
Take a look at the text and tell me your opinions....
