HEROIC DUELS OR MASS COMBAT? HOMERIC WARFARE

The Iliad is full of duels between heroes: two named characters find themselves face to face in the midst of battle. They trade insults and blows until, usually, one falls or flees. As such, it can seem that battles in the Homeric world were fought almost exclusively by heroes and champions in the noman's-land between the two armies. However, just how important were such duels in the Homeric epics, and was there any form of mass combat?

Owain Williams

The prevalence of duels in Homeric battles has been explained in several ways. For example, it has been proposed that the masses of troops had no part to play in battle other than to serve as a place for the champions to rest after their duels. Alternatively, it has been suggested that there was either an opening round of duels, followed by a mass clash of the two armies, or that, viceversa, the two armies clashed and then separated, leaving space for the champions to duel. What these theories all overlook, however, is the relative fluidity of Homeric combat. At any one time there might be two champions duelling, another champion might be assisted by a fellow champion, while yet another might be rallying the masses to stand, in a…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVII.6

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