07-31-2009, 09:44 PM
Also kind of fun to see how very late the term hoplite is in referring to a warrior. One of the reasons that I tend to the heretical Hans Van Wees view and so on is that, if the hoplite revolution occurred in 650 BC, you'd think someone would have coined a useful name like "hoplite" in 650 BC to go with the "new" style. Esoecially as ancient Greekw as pretty fluid "living" language with an almost Germanic kncak for coining terns to name things..like Philosophy...
But instead, it looks to me as if the word first occurs in Aeschylus around 470 BC, although clearly the word was used slightly earlier, as Pindar praises a runner of the hoplitodromos (about 500 BC).
I'm a very fallible amateur classicist, and I invite you all to point out for me some earlier uses of hoplite.
But instead, it looks to me as if the word first occurs in Aeschylus around 470 BC, although clearly the word was used slightly earlier, as Pindar praises a runner of the hoplitodromos (about 500 BC).
Quote:[30] nikaphorôn: lampei de saphês areta
en te gumnoisi stadiois sphisin en t' aspidodoupoisin hoplitais dromois,
I'm a very fallible amateur classicist, and I invite you all to point out for me some earlier uses of hoplite.
Qui plus fait, miex vault.
