11-19-2007, 01:24 AM
Hello;
Returning to the white cuirass, "leukos" can be translated perfectly as "bright", in fact, etymologically it means "bright, light" (from the indoeuropean root *leuk- , the same as in latin Lux!) and with this meaning is used sometimes by Homer and the play-writers. "White" , as an undefinite colour (also gray, pale) is a secondary sense, but well attested in Homer too.
But Xenophon's reference (Anab I, 8,9)is a little strange, he uses:
"kai esan hippes men leukothorakes".(and there were cavalrymen who wore "white" cuirasses)
"leukothorax"; this compound is a "hapax legomenon" (a word found only once in the whole corpus of ancient greek literature) and I am pretty sure than with this "neologism" Xenophon wants to refer to a very concrete thing. If they were merely briliant metal cuirasses, Xenophon sholuld't need this new compound, there are other more common ways to describe shiny armour, as Stefanos said.
And if were linen cuirasses, why not describe them as "eikhon thorakas linous" as he wrote in Anab IV 7, 15?
It can be something special, referred to a distinctive tipe of armour painted in white, or covered in white, what apperars to say Plutarch (epithorakidia) in contrast with purple cover garments of Cyrus' army. In that sense, Xenophon migth have write also "*phoinikothorax" in the case of the other army's distinctive colour.
by the way, there is a very interesting achaemenid seal (shown in Forgotten Empire and also cited in Duncan Head's book) that shows a figth between a persian and a greek; the persian in median robe, wearing "linothorax" with pteryges, tiara and an axe attached to his back. The hoplite wears "attic" crested helmet, hoplon and two spears. Both are infantrymen, but it is an interesting seal abuot pesian (very close to the persians in greek vase paintings) and a greek in persian's eyes.
regards
Returning to the white cuirass, "leukos" can be translated perfectly as "bright", in fact, etymologically it means "bright, light" (from the indoeuropean root *leuk- , the same as in latin Lux!) and with this meaning is used sometimes by Homer and the play-writers. "White" , as an undefinite colour (also gray, pale) is a secondary sense, but well attested in Homer too.
But Xenophon's reference (Anab I, 8,9)is a little strange, he uses:
"kai esan hippes men leukothorakes".(and there were cavalrymen who wore "white" cuirasses)
"leukothorax"; this compound is a "hapax legomenon" (a word found only once in the whole corpus of ancient greek literature) and I am pretty sure than with this "neologism" Xenophon wants to refer to a very concrete thing. If they were merely briliant metal cuirasses, Xenophon sholuld't need this new compound, there are other more common ways to describe shiny armour, as Stefanos said.
And if were linen cuirasses, why not describe them as "eikhon thorakas linous" as he wrote in Anab IV 7, 15?
It can be something special, referred to a distinctive tipe of armour painted in white, or covered in white, what apperars to say Plutarch (epithorakidia) in contrast with purple cover garments of Cyrus' army. In that sense, Xenophon migth have write also "*phoinikothorax" in the case of the other army's distinctive colour.
by the way, there is a very interesting achaemenid seal (shown in Forgotten Empire and also cited in Duncan Head's book) that shows a figth between a persian and a greek; the persian in median robe, wearing "linothorax" with pteryges, tiara and an axe attached to his back. The hoplite wears "attic" crested helmet, hoplon and two spears. Both are infantrymen, but it is an interesting seal abuot pesian (very close to the persians in greek vase paintings) and a greek in persian's eyes.
regards
"paraita karam hamiçiyam haya mana naiy gaubataiy avam jata"
"Go forth and crush that rebellious army, wich does not call itself mine!" King Darius at Behistun
Vishtaspa/Inyigo
"Go forth and crush that rebellious army, wich does not call itself mine!" King Darius at Behistun
Vishtaspa/Inyigo
