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

28 EARLY METHOD OF FIGHTING.ligence they rejected the useless and improved the valuableup to its highest utility for the conditions ofThe early Icings oftheir age.Greece held both the civil and militarypower. Every freeman was a soldier, and was trained assuch from his youth up.Bronze weapons were already familiarto the Greeks at the time of the Trojan war.Paris, from Carina Marbles.' "The noblesand chiefs used thrusting pike, castinglance and sword, and left missile-weapons— bows and slings —to the less brave or expert. TheTrojan chiefs did not disdain bows.Helmets, breastplates and largeshields were likewise made ofbronze. Fighting on foot and inchariots — the latter was the pre-,•-C j.i,„ .„„4- „r^,.^ 4^1,^rogative oi the great — were theusual methods. There was no cavalry, for the hilly characterofGreece (except Thessaly and Boeotia) was un suited toits evolutions, and neither, as a rule, were the horses goodnor the men of Greece used to riding. The constant employmentof chariots is all the more curious. From thesetwo or four horse two-wheeled vehiclesthe warrior descendedto fight, the driver meanwhile remaining near at hand. Atbest they were cumbrous and of doubtful value, excejit as amoral stimulant.In the tradition of the Seven against Thebes, to assertPolynices' claims as king, there are some traces of organizationsuggested.The city was besieged by posting a separatedetachment opposite each of its gates, and by relying onhunger as an ally. But the Thebans made a sortie, slewthe seven kings, and drove their forces away. Ten yearslater the sons of these kings captured Thebes, and placedPolynices' son upon the throne.