Quote from: Bren on 13 February 2018, 09:02:52 PM
Who know Achilles was black? Homer didn't mention that in the Illiad, at least not in the translation I read.

It's been years since I tried to read the thing - only got about half-way through - but I don't remember Homer mentioning that he was white either. Or any other colour.

Hi
Well why dont we put green make up on every actor from now on  just to even the field a bit. That'll keep everyone happy. Problem solved. I should work for the UN.

Jim

Quote from: fsn on 13 February 2018, 08:34:27 PM
I do hope the Beeb will put the heroes in appropriate armour.

Me too.

Dendra plate armour isn't it though. The Dendra panoply is generally considered to belong to 15th century BCE while the Trojan war is generally placed in the 13th. To be fair, it is sometimes suggested that Achilles wore something akin to the Dendra set, hence his reputation for being invulnerable except at the back of the lower leg (not covered by Dendra style armour and greaves).

By the Trojan War we're probably looking at something more like this

For those who haven't seen the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTBOi1PAMmw

Quote from: Jim Ando on 13 February 2018, 09:58:48 PM
Well why dont we put green make up on every actor from now on  just to even the field a bit.

Was the 'real' Achilles black? Almost certainly not, and some people seem to get very upset about a black actor portraying him. 'Political correctness gone mad' and all that bollocks.

Was the 'real' Achilles blond-haired & blue-eyed (Brad Pitt)? Almost certainly not again, but no one bats an eyelid.

Can't see the difference myself.

Quote from: Raider4 on 13 February 2018, 10:28:56 PM
Was the 'real' Achilles black? Almost certainly not, and some people seem to get very upset about a black actor portraying him. 'Political correctness gone mad' and all that bollocks.

Was the 'real' Achilles blond-haired & blue-eyed (Brad Pitt)? Almost certainly not again, but no one bats an eyelid.

Can't see the difference myself.

What he said!

Quote from: Ithoriel on 13 February 2018, 10:06:48 PM
Dendra plate armour isn't it though.

I know, but I want to see actors trying to be all Brad Pit whilst dressed like a dustbin. More like those inflatable Sumo suits. 

The Dendra is supposed to have been quite good for riding in a chariot though.

I've seen two reenactors in full Dendra style armour dueling and they moved pretty freely. Unsurprisingly, they said it was important to have the armour made exactly for you. No pret a porter Dendra, I guess.

They reckoned the main problem was that you couldn't throw a javelin or use a bow while wearing it.

Not, to be fair, something one necessarily expects to see looming out of the haar on a damp, chilly Sunday morning in Edinburgh but there were regular groups of Dark Age, Medieval and Fantasy re-enactors* on the Links in good weather.

Two slightly soggy but surprisingly cheerful young ladies were acting as umpires and squires.


*I realise "re-enactor" is something of a misnomer in relation to Fantasy but you know what I mean

I note that that bloody BCE crap is creeping in instead of AD. What a load of politically correct rhubarb. What about respecting our own culture. Far more important than what degree of brown Achilles was.

Quote from: Ithoriel on 14 February 2018, 12:27:49 PM
I've seen two reenactors in full Dendra style armour dueling and they moved pretty freely.

They reckoned the main problem was that you couldn't throw a javelin or use a bow while wearing it.

Now that's interesting. I always assumed that Dendra was build for a chariot warrior - pretty impervious, but once off the chariot couldn't move very well. Also surprised that the javelin was unusable. I would have thought that was pretty much a pre-requisite.

Ithoriel, you have proved the utility of the forum as an educational tool. Thank you.

Whats BCE stand for. Obviously a new version that doesnt  upset some imaginary part of the population that probably couldnt give a s**t anyway.

Jim

Before the Common Era.

The Common Era starting, coincidentally, in the same year Jesus was supposed to have been born. 

After JC's birth, we have Common Era (CE)

So, it's a bit like GMT, which we MUST. NOT. USE. anymore.

Instead use UTC, which just happens to be exactly the same . . .

The common era. What the hell does that mean. Who thought thay one up.

Again a new one on me, and again a kick in the teeth for British culture, historical and scientific. It's not called GREENWICH mean time for nothing. Next you'll be telling me the Americans captured and deciphered the enigma code in WWII ( sorry, the second war of Europe's eternal shame, because the rest of the world is such a tolerant and peace loving place).