Rome versus Pyrrhus

[D B Campbell]

Then what is your explanation to such devices used in siege warfare in Livy’s early books on the republic and Dionysius up to 449 BC?

I don't have the references to hand, but (from memory) there aren't many, and (again from memory) they're fairly vague. The kind of thing that an Augustan author might've used to embroider an otherwise dull account of a siege. So you think there was artillery at Veii?

Your original criticism was of scholars who bend the sources to support their own theories. ...

It would seem whatever I present is not going to be adequate.

Not so. I simply wondered if you see a difference between disagreeing with a previous scholar (citing alternative evidence, pointing up poor methodology, etc) and villifying the profession for bending evidence to suit its own agenda.

Bell’s paper is a strong example of poor academic practice, or selective use of the sources to reinforce an erroneous theory. I have given examples of a variety of poor academic practices. As I come across more I will post them, but no matter what I present I believe it will be futile in your eyes.

Again, not so. This is the kind of material that should go in your thesis. You are disagreeing with a previous scholar by citing alternative evidence and pointing up poor methodology. This is the cut and thrust of academic debate that I mentioned before. This is what is expected of a PhD candidate. It doesn't mean that everybody else is a mendacious charlatan. Only that you have identified new areas for advance.

I might equally ask how you reconcile Caesar's 120-man century with Plutarch's 5000-man legion. They can't both be right. (Or can they?)

Mr Campbell, I do not need to reconcile Caesar and Plutarch as I am not the one claiming a century contained 80 men and a legion numbered 4800 men during the time of Caesar. ...

As you are studying the Republican army, I wondered if you had a view on why Caesar and Plutarch might come up with different evidence for the size of a legion. (This seems to be fundamental to your thesis.) You stated before that you "trusted" Plutarch. But surely you also "trust" Caesar?

... If I published such a claim then I would give proof to support it. However, proof is the casualty in all of this. It is no longer required. The standard now is to make statements without evidence.

Hyginus, De mun. castr. 1 states that the century numbered 80 men, as every good Roman scholar knows.