what was the most feared weapon of the ancient era?

[stalin006]

the persian immortals were the top pf the cream of teh persian army, the emperors bodyguards

 

[Dark Ascendant]

Originally posted by stalin006
greek fire? war elephants? mongol riders?

Does this only cover ground forces?

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by Dark Ascendant
Does this only cover ground forces?

Greek fire was used in naval engagements IIRC. The Byzantine navy depended heavily on it to keep the Arabs off the Med.

 

[Ribannah]

The War Cry

 

[Dark Ascendant]

Originally posted by Knight-Dragon
Greek fire was used in naval engagements IIRC. The Byzantine navy depended heavily on it to keep the Arabs off the Med.

Yeah, those fire galleys scared the sh** out of the Arabs at first.

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

I would say those big bronze mirror reflectors the greek inventor Archimedes set up on some island fortress somewhere in the mediterenian. Apparently they could , if the weather allowed, reflect the rays of the sun and concentrate them into beams of light which could set the sails of passing ships in flames. He might have been a bit mad.

 

[KoRnEa]

The first encounter with any weapon would be scary..

the first time a man poked another with a sharp stick (spear)

the first time a man shot a sharp stick from a distance (arrow)

the first time a man swung a shiny sharp stick (sword)

the first time a man came to battle mounted on horse

the first time a man was covered in iron

etc etc..

 

[Dark Ascendant]

Originally posted by Dr. Dr. Doktor
I would say those big bronze mirror reflectors the greek inventor Archimedes set up on some island fortress somewhere in the mediterenian. Apparently they could , if the weather allowed, reflect the rays of the sun and concentrate them into beams of light which could set the sails of passing ships in flames. He might have been a bit mad.

Wow, never heard of that before. Could you be more specific about the effectiveness on passing ships?

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by Dark Ascendant


Wow, never heard of that before. Could you be more specific about the effectiveness on passing ships?

I don't know how effective it was but he angered the Romans so much they just had to kill him. His final words were: "Don't disturb my circles!" A true mathematician.

Here is a link to the biography of Achimedes.

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Archimedes.html

Quote:
" During the Roman siege of Syracuse, he is said to have single-handedly defended the city by constructing lenses to focus the Sun's light on Roman ships and huge cranes to turn them upside down. When the Romans finally broke the siege, Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier after snapping at him "Don't disturb my circles," a reference to a geometric figure he had outlined on the sand. "

A more exhaustive source on Achimedes is found here:

http://www.mcs.drexel.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/contents.html

By John Zonaras (circa twelfth century AD)

"At last in an incredible manner he [Archimedes] burned up the whole Roman fleet. For by tilting a kind of mirror toward the sun he concentrated the sun's beam upon it; and owing to the thickness and smoothness of the mirror he ignited the air from this beam and kindled a great flame, the whole of which he directed upon the ships that lay at anchor in the path of the fire, until he consumed them all."

I can see achimedes runing around his fortress going, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!"

 

[Toasty]

Greek fire, 'cause the History Channel told me so .

 

[Archbob]

I believe it was a large stick.