07-31-2003, 12:11 PM
At half-way now, I can see that Ford did a good job following Ammianus Marcellinus. Not too much psychological depth of the personages though.<br>
Some anachronisms occur. I think we can safely dismiss the writer's (Caesarius) constant referral to the Germans a 'enormous', wielding 5-foot weapons etc., as a mere exaggeration. The 'thumbs up' and 'thums down' in the circus are more worrying.<br>
However, when he has Julian wielding a 'curved scimitar', and refers to the infantry as wielding 'our short swords', then I fear that the author (Ford) simply has not done enough reading, so his actual knowledge about the Late Roman army fall embarrassingly hort.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 8/1/03 3:20 pm<br></i>
Some anachronisms occur. I think we can safely dismiss the writer's (Caesarius) constant referral to the Germans a 'enormous', wielding 5-foot weapons etc., as a mere exaggeration. The 'thumbs up' and 'thums down' in the circus are more worrying.<br>
However, when he has Julian wielding a 'curved scimitar', and refers to the infantry as wielding 'our short swords', then I fear that the author (Ford) simply has not done enough reading, so his actual knowledge about the Late Roman army fall embarrassingly hort.<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=vortigernstudies>Vortigern Studies</A> at: 8/1/03 3:20 pm<br></i>
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
