06-13-2013, 11:42 PM
The verb used by Appian is "to cut through" (diakoptein) and certainly describes a "breaking through" assault. Plus, although he gives the same casualty numbers as Livy, he specifically writes that these 300 were of the Romans of the city, that is that the allies were not included in this number. Of course, all this has nothing to do with the point I wanted to make at the time, but, I thought I should write this post, since you seem interested in that battle.
As for the Roman rout, cataphracts would not follow them at some great speed and certainly would not precipitously ride forward after the enemy, so, most Romans escaping to their camp is logical, especially since it would not be a very great distance away and the garrison had already formed a defensive line to receive them.
As for the Roman rout, cataphracts would not follow them at some great speed and certainly would not precipitously ride forward after the enemy, so, most Romans escaping to their camp is logical, especially since it would not be a very great distance away and the garrison had already formed a defensive line to receive them.
