ANCIENT BATTLES

I salute you brothers! Another day begins for Ancient Battles. On one side the Strategos Andria on the other side PELTASTAI and HOPLITAI . Some new recruits at that time..

 

A small combat formation with HOPLITES and light infantry on the left flank. The training begins at the lake Rodrigo de Freitas, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

(Remark the PHALANX deep rooted position)

 

"HOPLITES" (AI: pl.) in lockshield formation flanked by one PELTASTES.

Tactic trainings. Skirmishers against Hoplitai.

Repetition is the key. We have acquired a field tested experience of what is real and what is pure fantasy from modern minds.

The Strategos Andria instructing the line how to move as one.

(photo by www.leonardodegorter.com)

 

The endless trainings and the hard study of patterns and real technics of these times grant to Ancient Battles all its seriousness.

 

To create unity and discipline, formation drills are exhaustively practiced, thoughout all kind of terrain.

 

Training supervision under the aquiline eye of Andria.

 

Training drills with light shields and KOPIS, involving a changing line of attack.

 

Things get rough!

This is why we use wooden weapons. In full contact combat free-fighting, things get rough and people can sustain a certain level of injures. With a blunt blade, Myckon, on the ground, would had a serious cut and a broken knee. With a real blade his leg would have been cut off at knee level.

 

 

MONOMAKHIA
The duel.

 

Sword and shield drills. Here a references switch with attack and parry. 2 against 1.

 

Close range fighting. The didactic follow a logical teaching and practice where a large range of weapons are used.

 

The Hoplomakhos Andria against Reginaldo, Greek PELTASTES.

 

The mastery of double weapons against a shield & a HARPÉ (makharia).

 

The excellency comes from mastering in PHALANX combat situation the correct combinations between the body unity, the shield and the weapon.

 

 

Persian and allies troops in an effort to break the "hoplites" formation. It is a brutal confrontation of arms and clashing shields.

 

Training the phalanx to withstand a clash and to hold the line.

 

(L. to R.) RAFAEL, light infantry from SAMOS / RENATO, PHRYGIAN spearman / DAVID, PERSIAN heavy infantry officer / GUSTAVO, Spartan hoplites and JOSÉ-PAULO, IONIAN hoplites from EPHESOS.

Tamara "THANVABARA", Persian Archer.


Our Persian archer, in ambush.

Just a laughting break!

(The 5 following pictures were taken by www.larissaeberius.carbonmade.com.br)

When the spirit guides the arrow!

Miguel - HOPLITES

Pedro "the Greek" Newlands - Hoplites

Renato - Phrygian medium infantry.

 

Eduardo - Persian TAKABARA (Peltastes).

 

Renato Phrygian axeman & BRUNO Phrygian spearman.

Myckon, Greek Hoplites.

 

FULL CONTACT COMBAT.

DAVID with shield & sword Vs. MÍGUEL with sword & dagger.

(photo Magali Oliveira)

 

Free sword fighting.

Míguel stroke a strait cut to Felipe's limb.

Forest training. A fragile truce between Greeks and Phrygians.

After a harsh day of battle, few bites in a tastefull frugal meal, grant us some small measure of peace.

FOR THE GODS!
An offering to the Olympian Gods, the ritual of wine.

 

The banquet

Lay down your arms, let the warrior at rest. Now, feast children, enjoy the simple pleasures of life. (Dark bred, olives, goat cheese, nuts, honeybred, grappes, apple, peaches...).