Greek and Other Aegean Mercenaries in the Archaic Age: Aristocrats, Common People, or Both?

• Authors: Iancu Liviu Mihail
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Two issues regarding the social status of Archaic Greek (and other Aegean) mercenaries are discussed. The historiographical issue consists in exploring the reasons why the image of a limited participation restricted to the elites has until recently prevailed. The influence of social anthropology, which contributed to the development of a series of conceptual automatisms, is seen as the main cause for the emergence of the elitist thesis. The historical and anthropological issue consists in a summary re‑evaluation of the most appropriate and persuasive sources that provide clues for the broader social participation in mercenary activities.

Keywords

EN

Mercenaries; Archaic Greece; elites; social anthropology; warfare; conceptual automatism

Discipline

• ANTHROPOLOGY: ANTHROPOLOGY

• Publisher: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic
• Journal: Studia Hercynia
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 9-29

Contributors

author

Iancu Liviu Mihail

• University of Bucharest