Ancient Warfare Podcast

Listener question from TheSgruby: How important were the Evocati in Roman political and military life? And when do they first – and last – appear in the historical record?   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a question about Roman tactics. If the Romans deployed in three lines of infantry, each eight men deep, how did they avoid leaving their flanks exposed to an enemy who could form a single, wider line? Murray unpacks how the Roman system worked and why it proved so effective.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

"The second century begins with a great war of conquest, and ends with another civil war between pretenders to the throne. Between those two extremes, there were changes in equipment, the rise of career officers, and the introduction of campaigns fought with detachments, instead of uprooting the entire legion." The team discuss the latest edition of the magazine issue 105, A Century of Warfare: The Roman army in the 2nd century AD.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm returns to the topic of dice in the ancient world. After a question about Greek and Roman dice and the game of Hazard, Murray explores other games played with dice and uncovers intriguing details about the Roman game of Alea — perhaps the one Julius Caesar referenced with his famous phrase "Alea iacta est." As always, the reality is more complex than it first seems.

In this episode of Ancient Warfare Answers, Murray Dahm tackles a listener question from Richard Azzalin. Did Greek and Roman soldiers ever fight while wearing their cloaks or chlamys? And did warriors sometimes go into battle barefoot? Murray looks at what the evidence tells us about these details of ancient warfare.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast