Monday 1 November 2010

Tarantine Cavalry

Skirmish cavalry in the Tarantine fasion. Figures by Newline Designs.




5 comments:

  1. They look really good but what are tarrantines??
    greetings
    Paul

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  2. Good point, I fixed the typo. I'm not sure if they are supposed to be from Ancient Tarentum or whether its a label to a type of fighting style or equipment. I get the impression its the second but can't remember where I read it. Maybe it was in Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars by Duncan Head.

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  3. Thanks...I wasn´t questioning your knowledge..It just that I have never heard of them...my knowledge of the ancient world is a bit limited to the Roman/celtic types.
    Cheers
    Paul

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  4. They were greek knights from the ancient city of Taras (Tarentum in latin, Taranto nowadays), a city in the south of Italy, the capital of Magna Grecia.

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    Replies
    1. Taras conquered the egemony of the southern Apulia fighting against Messapi, Iapigii, Peucetii. Moreover the founded cities like Heraklea (Policoro nowadays) and Kalipolis (Gallipoli), and controlled the sea towards Cape Lacinio (Capo Colonna nowadays, near Croton). Taras called Pyrrhus to fight against Rome, winning the battles of Heraklea and Ausculum ("Phyrric Victory"), but in the last battle at Maleventum were defeated leaving Rome to conquer the entire southern peninsula.

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