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Slinger on a Greek vase, ca. 620 BCE (Read 8393 times)
David Morningstar
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Re: Slinger on a Greek vase, ca. 620 BCE
Reply #15 - May 31st, 2013 at 5:14am
 

Xenophon had some hoplites from Rhodes, which was a major centre of slinging skill. They will have joined up as hoplites for greater pay and glory, but they were able to convert to slingers when the need arose.

I would have left off the armour etc with the baggage train and gone as light as possible to facilitate a rapid exit once the main body of the 10,000 had successfully escaped. The whole point of using slingers in this engagement was to outrange the enemy archers, so getting hit should not be on the agenda.

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Bill Skinner
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Re: Slinger on a Greek vase, ca. 620 BCE
Reply #16 - May 31st, 2013 at 9:00am
 
If you don't hit them, you don't hurt them.  After the first volleys with no effect, the attackers would ignore the slingers and close with the main body.      
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David Morningstar
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Re: Slinger on a Greek vase, ca. 620 BCE
Reply #17 - May 31st, 2013 at 11:07am
 

Which is why he was specifically picking Rhodians, rather than taking 200 at random.
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Thearos
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Re: Slinger on a Greek vase, ca. 620 BCE
Reply #18 - May 31st, 2013 at 11:38am
 
Slingers are attested in the Boiotian army say ca. 250-180 BCE (e.g. SEG 3.354)-- as part of the modern army levied by the Boiotian federation (serving alongside archers-- the division of the Koroneians won, once, in all cateogires, including slingers, at the contests of the Pamboiotia).

Slinging also sometimes appears as part of the contests in the gymnasion.
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