Customer Reviews

The Ancient Greeks (Elite)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As always Osprey may a nice contribution to anyone intEresting in the Ancient Warfare of the Greeks, this books is not a deep look or study of the famous Hoplites or armies of ancient times but it could be use as a nice introduction to a really hard subject.

This was the first book I bought from Nick Sekunda and I was not disappointed, after reading this title I decide to buy other from the same author and follow the recommendations he made of other works that would really help you. The Author use the Plates of the one of the best historical illustrators Angus McBride to traces the development of Greek warfare throughout the classical period and offers a detailed account of Greek military dress during this famous period.

This book provides a unique and practical perspective on dificult theme in military history with wonderfully descriptive illustrations, to tell you the true I see this title as an invaluable resource for historians, if you are into Military History you should add this book to your shelves.

Look for other titles of Nick Sekunda of the Greece Armies and the Classical period but to understand more of this subject the books of Peter Connolly on "GREECE AND ROME AT WAR" and John Gibson Warry "Warfare in the Classical World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons,Warriors and Warfare in the Ancient Civilisations of Greece and Rome" but for me the best study since it appear for the first time on 1967 but is still the principal comprehensive work on this subject is "Arms and Armor of the Greeks" by Anthony M. Snodgrass, without forgeting the recent work "The Wars of the Ancient Greeks" by Victor Davis Hanson.

Most of the text of this book is actually the plate commentary. Both the text and the plates themselves naturally focus mostly on hopltes, but several forms of light infantry, as well as cavalry, civilians, and Thracian barbarians are all depicted as well. The McBride plates, of which there are 12, are awesome as usual.

Although the text was well written (and researched), and McBride's artwork flawless as usual, I was somewhat disappointed & bored with the similar themes of the color plates. Would have liked to have seen more illustrations of various types of body armor.

I used this book as a reference for painting plastic Greek figures. The color plates are beautiful and confirmed the accuracy of the figures. Overall, this is a nice introduction to the subject.

I bought it thinking that it was alright but instead a lot of information that I needed. Its a great buy for the price.