Hellenistic image for book cover

[philsidnell]

This is a long shot but I couldn't think of a better group of people to ask. We have a forthcoming book called Twilight of the Hellenistic World and we are a bit stuck for a cover image. One option is to go down the route of just having a pretty scenic shot of a pile of ruins, the temple at Ephesus or something similar, which could be made to look very nice. But I would like to get our jacket designer to try something that makes it clear this is first and foremost a military history. It's basically about the wars and power struggles between the Successor states in the generation or so before their conquest by the Romans.

Does anyone have some good late Hellenistic reenactment images they'd be willing to let us play around with? You have to own the copyright (ie they have to be your pics) and it has to be a good high res image (one of you already kindly offered something but, alas, the image was not high enough resolution). An image of a single person could work, but it might be nice to have a group of pikemen or something to play with too.

Also, as well as reenactment shots, good images of contemporary depictions (statues, reliefs etc) would be good too, but I know these are in short supply for this period.

One (or more) of you could be immortalized on the cover and I'll make sure you get an early preview of the text and a free copy of the finished thing.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

Phil Sidnell
Pen & Sword Books

[M. Demetrius]

Hmm. A column of wounded, bedraggled warriors returning from the battleground, seen from behind, with only ruins in the distance?

[philsidnell]

Yes, that might be very atmospheric and I welcome your input, but what I need is the actual image files for the designer to play with. Imagining a concept is, unfortunately, the easy bit. Conjuring up an actual image of a Hellenistic soldier is where it gets tricky. And of course it's urgent, in case I didn't mention that bit.

Thanks

Phil

[M. Demetrius]

Can't help you, then. No bedraggled Greeks in Central Texas.

[philsidnell]

Thanks for the input though.

Phil

[hoplite14gr]

Dear Phil,

I think here is your answer

www.hetairoi.de

Kind regards

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Yes,you either need to contact the Hetairoi group:
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heuneb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heuneb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heuneb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/Otterb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/Otterb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2010/rem-ma ... full-image
Or the Spanish group Athenea Promachos:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rHtEvBJuD0M/SgfFL ... MG1420.JPG
http://www.atheneapromakhos.org/public/ ... -07075.jpg
Khaire
Giannis

[philsidnell]

Dear Phil,

I think here is your answer

http://www.hetairoi.de

Kind regards

Thanks, it's an interesting video, but not for this book I fear. These are Classical Greek hoplites of the 5th or 4th century BC aren't they? I need something appropriate for one of the Hellenistic kingdoms of the late 3rd/early 2nd century BC.

Thanks anyway

Phil

[philsidnell]

Yes,you either need to contact the Hetairoi group:
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heuneb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heuneb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heuneb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/Otterb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/Otterb ... full-image
http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2010/rem-ma ... full-image
Or the Spanish group Athenea Promachos:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rHtEvBJuD0M/SgfFL ... MG1420.JPG
http://www.atheneapromakhos.org/public/ ... -07075.jpg
Khaire
Giannis

Hi and thanks for this. I couldn't make any of the hetairoi links work, but I'll have a look at their site when I get a chance. The phalangite image of the Spanish group looks more appropriate though I am not sure it will work alone - perhaps we could photoshop in a forest of pikes behind him, silhoutted in the twilight. The second image is a no-no. Definitely no Romans allowed. The point of the book is the last 30 years or so before the Romans poked their beaks in described and analysed on its own terms, not, as is usually the case, seen with hindsight as the prelude to an inevitable Roman invasion. A major thrust of the book is that in the last decades of the 3rd c. BC, the Romans just weren't high in the awareness or priorities of the Hellenistic kingdoms.

I will certainly now go and take a look at the Spanish group's site though. Many thanks and please keep the ideas (and pictures) coming.

Phil

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Mmm,in fact they don't work for me either,dunno why! Search through the photos of 2010 and 2009 in their site.
The Athenea promachos certainly have more photos of hellenistic impressions. My point was that if asked they might be able to take some shots upon request.
Khaire
Giannis

[D B Campbell]

I couldn't make any of the hetairoi links work, ...

Looks like they've been moved.

http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heunebu...full-image

... is this one.

http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heunebu...full-image

... is this one.

http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/heunebu...full-image

... is this one.

http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/Otterba...full-image

... is this one.

http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2009/Otterba...full-image

... is this one. Nice choice, Giannis!

http://hetairoi.de/zenphoto/2010/rem-man...full-image

... is this one. Wow!

I guess you'd just have to trawl through all the images to find one that you like. (Very worthwhile -- there are some nice ones!)

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

Thanks much for all the effort! Now they're perfectly visible :-) )

[hoplite14gr]

Sent me PM with you email and I will sen you images of marching phalangite.

Kind regards

[philsidnell]

Aah yes, that's more promising, thanks Duncan, and you Giannis. Stephanos, thanks for the offer of help, I have PM' d you with my email address.

All your kind efforts much appreciated

Phil

[hoplite14gr]

Mission accomplished