 | | Ancient History Ancient History Forum - Greece, Rome, Carthage, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and all other civilizations of antiquity, to include Prehistory and Archaeology discussions | 
April 12th, 2012, 06:31 PM
|
#1 | | Archivist
Joined: Dec 2011 From: Monterrey, Mexico Posts: 137 | Information on the defeat of Spartacus?
Hello where could I find information about the last battle of Spartacus? The numbers of soldiers on each side, casualties, what happened etc?
And also it is said that Spartacus was killed in the battle but his body was never found. Do you believe in this or do you think that he fled?
| | | 
| | |
April 12th, 2012, 06:43 PM
|
#2 | | Restitutor Canadensis
Joined: Nov 2010 From: The Great Indoors Posts: 2,530 |
Read Plutarch's 'Life of Crassus' and 'Life of Pompey', and Appian's 'Civil Wars'. Those are the main primary sources that cover the 3rd Servile War.
| | | |
| | |
April 12th, 2012, 11:47 PM
|
#3 | | Priest of Baʿal Hammon
Joined: Apr 2010 From: Oxford Posts: 3,381 |
You could also try this:
I enjoyed this one. Short but a good read.
The sources that say that he died in battle differ somewhat in the telling, but essentially it is the same thing, dying in battle. He supposedly killed his horse before the fight, which would certainly make it harder for him to escape!
| |
Last edited by markdienekes; April 12th, 2012 at 11:57 PM.
| |
| | |
April 14th, 2012, 02:51 AM
|
#4 | | Citizen
Joined: Apr 2012 From: England, UK Posts: 42 | Quote:
Originally Posted by markdienekes  You could also try this: The Spartacus War: Amazon.co.uk: Barry Strauss: Books
I enjoyed this one. Short but a good read.
The sources that say that he died in battle differ somewhat in the telling, but essentially it is the same thing, dying in battle. He supposedly killed his horse before the fight, which would certainly make it harder for him to escape! | Do you know why he killed his horse?
| | | |
| | |
April 14th, 2012, 03:07 AM
|
#5 | | Priest of Baʿal Hammon
Joined: Apr 2010 From: Oxford Posts: 3,381 | Quote:
Originally Posted by Isabella Do you know why he killed his horse? | This is what Plutarch has to say about this moment:
First, when his horse was brought to him, he drew his sword and killed it, saying that the enemy had plenty of good horses which would be his if he won, and, if he lost, he would not need a horse at all (Life of Crassus, 8-11)
Seems like he was trying to improve morale, and was clearly revealing the upcoming tactics in a do or die fight.
| | | |
| | |
April 14th, 2012, 03:20 AM
|
#6 | | Citizen
Joined: Apr 2012 From: England, UK Posts: 42 | Quote:
Originally Posted by markdienekes This is what Plutarch has to say about this moment:
First, when his horse was brought to him, he drew his sword and killed it, saying that the enemy had plenty of good horses which would be his if he won, and, if he lost, he would not need a horse at all (Life of Crassus, 8-11)
Seems like he was trying to improve morale, and was clearly revealing the upcoming tactics in a do or die fight.
| Fascinating stuff.
| | | |
| | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Copyright © 2006-2013 Historum. All rights reserved.
|  |
