Mid Roman Republican v Carthaginians battle

[Zippee]

Gad, what a thought. One father was more than I needed!

FK - an immaculately conceived juxtaposition.

[Leman]

Ooh that apostrophe can be a right little minx.

Republican Romans:

Velites - javelin armed skirmishers - out front.

Hastati - younger members of the heavy infantry. Mix of chest plate and mail. Armed with pila - first line.

Principes - experienced heavy infantry. Armed as above and formed second line.

Triarii - veterans - wore mail and carried a long thrusting spear. They formed the third line reserve. If a battle was going badly it was said to have gone to the Triarii.

[Zippee]

Unless they're earlier Republican Roman in which case the velites are shieldless and have a spear plus javelins, the hastati might have pila and possibly a chest plate, the principes will have a spear and chest plate (possibly mail) and the triarii spear and plate or mail.

And except when they're later Republican Roman and hastati, principes and triarii are merged into identical all mail and pila cohorts

It's a constant evolution - we have 4 clear snapshots*, that's about it

*Which is approximately 4 clear snapshots more than we have for most ancient armies 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Clear: as if in written after the event through slightly rose tinted lenses, that were smeared in finest ghe and dipped in glitter, clear?

[Zippee]

It's that or Caesarean propaganda and self-aggrandisement

[Techno]

Clear: as if in written after the event through slightly rose tinted lenses, that were smeared in finest ghe and dipped in glitter, clear?

Ghe ?

Lost on that one. 

Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Ghe ?

Lost on that one. 

Cheers - Phil

Sorry, mistyped ghee! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

[Zippee]

Ghee, the stuff we no longer cook our curries in - staple to Indian cooking, also helps to prevent bloodloss by disabling arteries

[FierceKitty]

It was never needed for curries; mainly snob value. Where it is useful is in korma cooking. If you've marinaded your meat, chances are there'll be moisture on the surface, and frying may turn to half-hearted stewing. Ghee can, however, be safely heated to a much higher temperature than butter or most neutral oils, so you'll get your caramelised surface to develop into a ravishing flavour.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

I now declare this topic, derailed! 

[Techno]

Sorry, mistyped ghee! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghee

Ta, Will.

I was trying to figure out if it was a predictive text foul up.....And couldn't guess what it could be.

I've learned something this morning.....Never heard of ghee, until today.

Cheers - Phil

[Zippee]

It was never needed for curries; mainly snob value. Where it is useful is in korma cooking. If you've marinaded your meat, chances are there'll be moisture on the surface, and frying may turn to half-hearted stewing. Ghee can, however, be safely heated to a much higher temperature than butter or most neutral oils, so you'll get your caramelised surface to develop into a ravishing flavour.

Nope, base ingredient for cooking absolutely anything* in my wife's family is ghee, whatever you make the base masala from it's fried in ghee.

*well unless making sweets in which case everything is just reduced condensed milk - same effect on arteries

Oh and there's never any meat involved - why would you assume there was?

[FierceKitty]

As I say, snob value. It's widely used because it's expensive and prestigious.

[Zippee]

Nope - cultural value, it's what has always been used and thus what is still used in traditional families.

[FierceKitty]

Explain the difference to me some day.