Civilizations: States and Empires

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Imperium Dimitrios
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Men of Bronze

91 Pins
Hannibal's military campaigns, particularly his victories in the Second Punic War, left a lasting legacy in the annals of military history. His innovative tactics, adaptability, and strategic genius inspired generations of military leaders, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Erwin Rommel. Hannibal's use of terrain, clever deployment of troops, and exploitation of enemy weaknesses remain studied and emulated by military strategists around the world, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest military commanders of all time.
According to historical accounts, including Polybius' writings, Hannibal's engineers and troops constructed rafts and pontoon bridges to transport the elephants across wide rivers, such as the Rhône. The rafts were likely made from wooden planks and inflated animal hides, providing a stable platform for the elephants to cross. Additionally, Hannibal's troops may have also used natural fords or shallow points in the rivers to facilitate the crossing. These ingenious solutions allowed Hannibal to overcome significant logistical challenges and maintain his elephant corps' effectiveness throughout his campaigns.
Hannibal's elephant corps was a crucial and iconic component of his Carthaginian army during the Second Punic War. Consisting of 37 war elephants, mostly African forest elephants, the corps played a key role in several battles, including the crossing of the Alps and the Battle of Cannae. The elephants, with their imposing size and strength, were used to break enemy lines, create chaos, and intimidate opponents, earning Hannibal a significant tactical advantage on the battlefield.

Imperial Carthage

146 Pins
#valhalla #Tatoo #Viking

Vikings

708 Pins
Miloš Obilić was a Serbian knight who is best known for his role in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. According to legend, Obilić infiltrated the Ottoman army by pretending to defect, and then assassinated Sultan Murad I during the battle. This act of bravery and cunning has made Obilić a hero in Serbian folklore, and he is still celebrated today as a symbol of Serbian patriotism and resistance against Ottoman rule. However, it's worth noting that the historical record of Obilić's life and actions is limited, and some details of his story may have been exaggerated or invented over time.
Basil II Porphyrogenitos, also known as the "Bulgar Slayer," was a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 976 to 1025. He is considered one of the most successful and effective emperors in Byzantine history, known for his military campaigns, administrative reforms, and territorial expansions. Basil II's conquests against the Bulgars and other neighboring states significantly expanded the Byzantine Empire, establishing a period of relative stability and prosperity that lasted for centuries.

Medieval Age

478 Pins
Altay is a legendary warrior in Turkic mythology, celebrated for his bravery, strength, and martial prowess. He is often depicted as a heroic figure, feared by his enemies and revered by his people, and is said to have possessed extraordinary abilities as a fighter and a leader. He is known for his military campaigns and victories in Central Asia and other regions. He is said to have expanded the territories of his people through his conquests, and his name is often associated with the spread of Turkic culture and influence throughout the continent.
Subutai was a Mongolian general and the primary military strategist of both Genghis Khan and later Ögedei Khan, for whom he conquered or overran more territory than any other known commander. With his tactical acumen, he demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate armies hundreds miles apart. It took less than a decade for Subutai to rise to the highest rank possible for one not related to Gengis Khan by blood, and he remained in that position until the age of seventy. Of this legacy, he presided over more than twenty campaigns, in which he conquered thirty-two nations and won sixty-five pitched battles.
The Mongolian horse archer was a highly skilled and feared warrior of the Mongol Empire, renowned for their exceptional horsemanship, archery, and mobility. Armed with a composite bow and quiver full of arrows, they could shoot while mounted and at full gallop, making them nearly unstoppable on the battlefield. Their lightning-fast raids and tactical prowess allowed the Mongols to conquer vast territories, creating the largest contiguous empire in history.

Mongol Empire

248 Pins
The 25th dynasty was highly Egyptianized, using the Egyptian language and writing system as their medium of record and exhibiting an unusual devotion to Egypt's religious, artistic, and literary traditions.
The 25th dynasty was a line of pharaohs who originated in the Kingdom of Kush, founded by Pharaoh Piye. The 25th Dynasty's reunification of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush created the largest Egyptian empire since the New Kingdom. They assimilated into society by reaffirming Ancient Egyptian religious traditions, temples, and artistic forms, while introducing some unique aspects of Kushite culture.

Ancient Egypt

466 Pins
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Native Britons played a significant role in the Roman auxiliary forces, with many serving in units such as the Cohors I Britannorum and the Ala I Britannica. These units were often deployed in various parts of the empire, including Britain, Europe, and North Africa. In addition to serving in the military, many native Britons also adopted Roman customs, such as building Roman-style villas, using Roman pottery and coins, and participating in Roman festivals and rituals.

Barbarians & Nomads: Tribal Warriors

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Neoptolemos being defeated in an individual fight with Eumenes at the Battle of the Hellespont (321 BC).
Ptolemaios II Philadelphos Lagid reigned in Alexandria for forty years. The greatest of the dynastic kings of his time, the material and literary splendour of the court reached its height, as he promoted the Mouseion and Library of Alexandria as bastions of Greek culture. He exercised power far beyond Egypt, his empire encompassing much of the Aegean and Levant. He aggressively maintained a policy of ensuring the navy was the dominant naval force in the Mediterranean. Domestically, his régime consolidated its power by aggressively encouraging immigration from across Greece, settling soldiers in developing areas of the Nile Valley.
While he did not operate on as many fronts as his fellow commanders, Ptolemy I followed a strategic policy of protecting his kingdom and expanding it. He built an empire that included Cyrenaica, Cyprus, Coele-Syria, Phoenicia, while maintaining overlordship of the Aegean islands, Judaea, Rhodes. In addition, he founded a ruthless thalassocracy that dominated the Agean and eastern Mediterranean, faciliating trade, fuelling economic prosperity, and bolstering security.

Diadochi: Wars & Successor Kingdoms

380 Pins
The Mausoleum of Augustus is a large ancient tomb built in Rome, Italy, to house the remains of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, and his family. Constructed in 28 BCE, the mausoleum was a grandiose structure, measuring 87 meters in diameter, with a stepped pyramid base supporting a large cylindrical drum, topped by a statue of Augustus. The mausoleum was built using travertine limestone and tuff stone, with a mixture of Greek and Roman architectural styles, reflecting Augustus' efforts to promote a connection between Rome's imperial power and its cultural heritage.

Rome: Republic and Empire

755 Pins
Alexander had a legendary bond with his horse Boukephalos, a massive and powerful stallion that became an iconic symbol of Alexander's power and prestige. According to legend, Boukephalos was a fierce and unrideable horse that had been presented to Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedon, but Alexander, then just a young prince, was able to tame the horse by recognizing its fear of its own shadow and approaching it slowly and calmly. From that moment on, Boukephalos became Alexander's loyal companion and mount, carrying him into countless battles and campaigns, including the conquest of Persia, and remaining by his side until the horse's death, reportedly at the age of 30, after which Alexander founded a city, Boukephala, in its honor.
Alexander's legacy as a military commander is unparalleled in history, as he achieved a stunning series of victories that transformed the ancient world. His tactical genius, adaptability, and innovative use of phalanx formations, lightning-fast cavalry, and siege engines enabled him to conquer a vast portion of the known world, creating one of the largest empires in history. Alexander's military campaigns, which took him from Greece to India, demonstrated his mastery of combined arms warfare, speed, and maneuver, as well as his ability to inspire loyalty and devotion in his troops.

The Ancient Greek Kingdom of Makedonia

318 Pins
Greek temples were often enhanced with figural decorations. especially the frieze areas offered space for reliefs and relief slabs; the pedimental triangles often contained scenes of free-standing sculpture.
Greek temples were often enhanced with figural decorations. especially the frieze areas offered space for reliefs and relief slabs; the pedimental triangles often contained scenes of free-standing sculpture.
The chryselephantine statue of Athena stood 12 metres tall and was made of carved ivory for flesh parts and gold. Extra embellishments were rendered using glass, copper, silver, and jewels. The statue represented Athena standing majestic, fully armed and holding a 4 cubit tall statue of Nike in her right hand. Athena wore a peplos which was tucked into a belt. She held a large circular shield in her left hand which rests on the floor. She also has a spear on her left side, and a large coiled sacred snake resided between her feet and the shield. On her triple-crested helmet stood a sphinx and two griffins with Pegasos wings either side; griffins also decorated the cheek-pieces. On the goddess' chest was the snake-tasselled aegis given to her by Zeus with the head of the gorgon Medusa in ivo

Classical Greek Antiquity

677 Pins