Recently I've been collecting some out of print Peter Connolly books, mainly because they're all beautifully illustrated and there is plenty of painting inspiration in each one of them. I've had well thumbed copies of Greece and Rome at War and The Ancient Greece of Odysseus for ages. Greece and Rome at War is a classic despite his suggestion of a pike armed Liby-Phoenician phalanx (p.148). See Duncan Head's Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars (p.144), as to why this isn't the case! Peter Connolly's other books are written for children but are still fun and informative to read as an adult. The Ancient Greece of Odysseus has the best illustrations of the Trojan War and won a Times Educational Supplement Information Book Award. All of these books can be purchased from second hand book sellers on Abebooks for not much at all.
What do you mean the Liby Phonecian phalanx wasn't pike armed! That's been a cornerstone for me since reading Peter Connollys Hannibal and the enemies of Rome, that, Roman armies and Greek armies were the first books I ever saved up to buy aged eleven and I've still got them, lovely illustration and of course gospel, be careful meddling with beliefs!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Iain I think that’s old news since Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars was first published in 1982! There are a few ranges around that have Carthaginian Libyan spearmen with a loop for the aspis or pelte shield so they can use two hands on the sarissa but most recent ranges have them with a short spear and shield.
DeleteTo be fair that was five years after I'd read the Connoly book and I might have lost interest a bit but good to know as I quite fancy doing an army of Carthage in 28mm!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Victrix have a great Carthaginian range in plastic. If I was starting out now I’d be tempted by the Warlord Epic Ancients Carthaginian range!
ReplyDelete