Hobb
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Posts: 329
Denver, CO
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I haven't seen the movie, but did anyone catch the Discovery channel special on Alexander the great? Apparently, the battle of Gaugamele (did I get that right?) was quite decisive in Alexander's military career, and 'peltists' (slingers, javelineers, & archers) were key in that victory. Alexander's cavalry rode off the battle field, forcing Persia's cavalry to paralell him to avoid being flanked. Once he'd lured them far enough away to open a hole in Persia's defenses, he spun around and went charging back through it. Of course, all Persia had to do was send their cavalry back to plug the hole, but Alexander had his peltists trotting along behind the cavalry, hidden by the horses. When he changed direction, the peltists blasted Persia's horsmen to keep them from engaging Alexander's cavalry. Slingers save the day!
They showed examples of the sling, the javelin, and the short bows. All weapons were presented as being 'short range.' The sling was strange. It was a sewn leather cup, with a single cord running through one end, back behind the cup, back up through the other end, so rather than two cords attached at the ends of the cradle, it was one long cord going through the cradle. The guy demonstrated, whirling the thing over his head like mad, but he hit the target. Unless there was trick photography involved...
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