Polyaenus's Stratagems of War
Polyaenus (R. Shepherd, trans.) · 162
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Description
Polyaenus compiled his Stratagems of War in 162 CE for two Roman emperors. R. Shepherd's English translation appeared in 1793. The collection gathers some nine hundred stratagems from myth to Macedon.
Ambushes, feints, disguises, and mind games fill the eight books. Generals, kings, and even gods contribute their famous tricks. Polyaenus wrote for emperors marching to war against Parthia. He hoped past cleverness would inspire present victories on campaign. Shepherd's translation delivered the ancient handbook of battlefield cunning to English officers. Not every tale is true, and Polyaenus rarely cares. As a storehouse of military deception, the collection has no ancient rival. Kings, chiefs, and plain troops all get their due in its long lists of tricks.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Polyaenus (R. Shepherd, trans.) |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 162 |
| COLLECTION | BOOKS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 704 KB |
| LICENSE | Public Domain |
| RIGHTS | PUBLIC DOMAIN |
| SOURCE | Internet Archive |