Battle and Battle Description in Homer: A Contribution to the History of War

Acknowledging that Homer is a poet, not a staff instructor, Albracht works carefully through the Homeric text to produce a persuasive picture of the workings of battle in the "Iliad", in two parts: Part 1 the council of war, marshalling of the troops, the use of chariots, the advance into battle, the standing fight, the massed attack and defence, retreat, flight and pursuit; in Part 2 protection in the field, attack and defence of a fortified camp and the siege and defence of a fortified city. Throughout he offers the reader explanations of the details of the battle narrative.