06-17-2013, 10:44 AM
Given my lack of Greek, I wonder if someone (perhaps Macedon, although I would appreciate anyone wading in) could assist in determining exactly what Arrian says in the sentence translated (DeVoto 1993) as:
"Two Tarantine troops are called a cavalry unit at five hundred and twelve riders which the Romans call a unit."
The query I have is 'what is the meaning of the Greek word(s) that have been translated as that second (bolded) 'unit'? It is normally referenced to the Latin 'ala' or 'alae', but they are, of course, in a different language. What I would love to know is what is a colloquial, or the definitive if such, translation? Does it say:
"......which the Romans call wings." OR "....which the Romans call a wing." OR with some reference to the 'wings of birds' OR 'anything similar' :unsure:
[Aside: Aelian's (Christopher Matthew 2012) comparable section says - "Two Tarantinarcharchia are called a hipparchia, which contains 512 horsemen." This translation does contain some useful anglicised pronunciations for those of us who do not read Greek sadly]
[2nd Aside: Loeb's Asclepiodotus translation is also fairly clear on the cavalry, but specifically doesn't reference numbers (the basic squadron seemingly ~61). As it's the earlier work and supposedly based upon a lost work of Posidonius, are Arrian's and Aelian's works inserting those numbers to make them similar to the infantry breakdown, but perhaps they shouldn't have?]
I thought I would add, as it would certainly help and for anyone else's interest....
The Aelian translation helpfully shows ϊλη (ilē) translated as 'troop'; Asclepiodotus has εϊλας translated as 'squadron'.
Josephus (BJ) in Book III uses the former, but at II/67 and II/500 uses ϊλας. Are all these uses accurate Greek or, I wonder, is the use of (particularly the latter) an attempt to transliterate the Latin ala(e)(s) as Greek?
I would be grateful for any help or comment. I can certainly attempt to re-type the necessary Greek text, but am even hampered there by my lack of knowledge on how to read it - looking up turma or ala in Tactitus is much easier!
"Two Tarantine troops are called a cavalry unit at five hundred and twelve riders which the Romans call a unit."
The query I have is 'what is the meaning of the Greek word(s) that have been translated as that second (bolded) 'unit'? It is normally referenced to the Latin 'ala' or 'alae', but they are, of course, in a different language. What I would love to know is what is a colloquial, or the definitive if such, translation? Does it say:
"......which the Romans call wings." OR "....which the Romans call a wing." OR with some reference to the 'wings of birds' OR 'anything similar' :unsure:
[Aside: Aelian's (Christopher Matthew 2012) comparable section says - "Two Tarantinarcharchia are called a hipparchia, which contains 512 horsemen." This translation does contain some useful anglicised pronunciations for those of us who do not read Greek sadly]
[2nd Aside: Loeb's Asclepiodotus translation is also fairly clear on the cavalry, but specifically doesn't reference numbers (the basic squadron seemingly ~61). As it's the earlier work and supposedly based upon a lost work of Posidonius, are Arrian's and Aelian's works inserting those numbers to make them similar to the infantry breakdown, but perhaps they shouldn't have?]
I thought I would add, as it would certainly help and for anyone else's interest....
The Aelian translation helpfully shows ϊλη (ilē) translated as 'troop'; Asclepiodotus has εϊλας translated as 'squadron'.
Josephus (BJ) in Book III uses the former, but at II/67 and II/500 uses ϊλας. Are all these uses accurate Greek or, I wonder, is the use of (particularly the latter) an attempt to transliterate the Latin ala(e)(s) as Greek?
I would be grateful for any help or comment. I can certainly attempt to re-type the necessary Greek text, but am even hampered there by my lack of knowledge on how to read it - looking up turma or ala in Tactitus is much easier!
