Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

CAMPS AND FORTIFICATIONS. 73Religion demanded the burial of those slain in battle.this purpose a truce was usual after victory.ForThe fear of theanger of the gods for refusal of this rite often forestalledthe grasping of the fruits of victory. It was the victors whoerected their trophies and buried their dead.The vanquishedwere compelled to sue for the rite of burial. Such a requestwas, of itself, an acluiowledgment of defeat. The bodies orashes of fallen warriors were sent to their homes, and werethereThe Greeks were utterly barbarous in many things. As arule, among the captives, the men were slain and the womenand children sold into slavery. Not infrequently these lastalso were killed, or even burned, in numbers at a time.Enemiesmight be annihilated, tortured or used inreceived with solemn ceremonial and given due sepulture.the most inhiunanor indecorous manner, without a suspicion that suchan act Avas reprehensible.The Greeks did not usually fortify their camps, but reliedon situation for defense.Thetroops were often shelteredin tents, made ofhides andcarried by the men. TheGreek soldier always carrieda large blanket-wrap forprotectionfrom the weather.This was capable — as thecloak has been in all ajjes —of being used on occasion for ^. .^ i uu- u /^ vUse 01 L/loak as ohield (irom a vase).defense.The field fortifications of the Greeks, or fortified lines forthe protection of given places, or to protect the access fromharbor to town (as of the Piraeus to Athens), were constructedof earthen walls with ditch, palisades or hurdlework, abatis,