Who is your favorite Ancient warriors and why?

Question

My favorite is the Thracians because they didn't turn down a fight. They were mercenaries for the Romans. They felt it was a mans place to die in battle. I like the Spartans also because seeing 100,000 of them ready for battle would have been a sight to see, their shields were very colorful as well as having shiny brass armor.

The Gurkha are from Nepal and are part or the Indian and British Armys.

MCMAP is Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, yes I'm sure they are badass:)

Tesla you said the Vikings, I like the berzerkers because they would fight naked against the Roman's in their armor and win.

Your very smart TJ

Havoc I found this about Demaratos and the Spartans.

"Come back with your shield - or on it", was supposed to be the parting cry of mothers to their sons. Mothers whose sons died in battle openly rejoiced, mothers whose sons survived hung their heads in shame.
Asked why it was dishonorable to return without a shield and not without a helmet, the Spartan king, Demaratos is said to have replied: "Because the latter they put on for their own protection, but the shield for the common good of all."
A Sybarite, who ate at a public mess, once remarked: "Now I know why the Spartans do not fear death."
An old man wandering around the Olympic Games looking for a seat was jeered at by the crowd until he reached the seats of the Spartans, whereupon every Spartan younger than him, and some that were older, stood up and offered him their seat. The crowd applauded and the old man turned to them with a sigh, saying "All Greeks know what is right, but only the Spartans do it."

Answer 1

Spartans they were badass, and the Marine Corps to this day, knowing how awesome they were integrated their knowledge, along with Samurai, Apache indian and Zulu Warrior fighting styles and formed MCMAP, the baddest, most brutal freakin martial art in the world. Even at entry level you learn to crush skulls and choke blood to the brain off in 8 seconds...

Not to mention these guys were hardcore:

The 300 Spartans were a band of Spartan Warriors handpicked by Leonidas, King of Sparta, during the invasion of Xerxes during the Greco-Persian Wars. The 300 fought their only battle at Thermopylae. The 300 were a "sire only" unit, meaning that each soldier had already sired a son. A "sire only" unit in Sparta meant a suicide unit, as each soldier was expected to die in his mission. The 300 Spartans' mission was to slow down the Persian invasion.

According to the History written by Herodotus, Leonidas was motivated by a prophecy, given by the Oracle of Delphi, that for Sparta to survive the Persian invasion, one of her two kings must die in battle. Whether or not this is true, Leonidas had solid tactical reasons for undertaking the mission.

The combined Greek forces had been attempted to block the Persians' land advance at the narrow Pass of Thermopylae, at the same time as a naval engagement at Artemisium took on the Persian fleet. Unfortunately, Ephialtes, from Malis, revealed the existence of the Anopaean path to the Persians, who under Hydarnes were able to get around the pass and the Greek forces. The 1,000 Phocian soldiers who had been stationed there to protect the Greek rear fled.

After a council of war, Leonidas ordered the Greek allies to retreat, with the exception of 700 Thespians, 400 Thebans, and his own force of 300 Spartans. These forces engaged the Persians. The Thebans surrendered before the final assault by the Persians, while the Thespians and Spartans were annihilated to a man.

This left all of central Greece undefended. The next line of land defence was at the Isthmus of Corinth.

Answer 2

I really don't know where to begin with this ...

(1) The Spartans were distinguished on the battlefield by their crimson cloaks. They eschewed all other color and ornamentation. That means no art. No music either.

(2) Berserkers (of the Viking variety, whether "wolf-men" or "bear-men") never fought the Romans. The Berserkers were a phenomenon far past the end of the Roman Empire, circa 9th century C.E. Those barbarians seen in the opening scenes of "Gladiator" are Germans. Gauls did the same thing more or less, what with body paint, chalk in the hair, and nudity on the field of battle.

Since by "Ancient" I believe the subject is more or less about classical antiquity vis-a-vis the Greco-Roman civilization, I nominate the Galatians. Fabulous swordsmen, outstanding Greco-Celtic stock. Scared the hell out of everyone in Asia Minor (and elsewhere) for years. Sarmatians run a close second, just for being a completely militarized society on horseback.

Answer 3

Dienekes and Leonidas of Sparta. Read Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield about the stand of 300 Spartans at Thermopylae that held up the gigantic Persian army led by Xerxes for days. The Lacedemonians weren't alone, but their vanguard leading the assembled Greek forces was what held the battel together for so long.

When Leonidas was leaving, knowing that the battle he was fighting was a hopeless and yet necessary delaying action, his wife asked him what she should do when he was gone. He responded, "Marry a good man, and have good children."

Upon Xerxes' demand that the Greeks lay down their weapons, his response has become legendary. Molan labe--Come take them.

Finally, my favorite of all is Dienekes:
Although extraordinary valor was displayed by the entire corps of Spartans and Thespaians, yet bravest of all was declared the Spartan Dienekes. It is said that on the eve of battle, he was told by a native of Trachis that the Persian archers were so numerous that, when they fired their volleys, the mass of arrows blocked out the sun. Dienekes, however, undaunted by this prospect, remarked with a laugh, 'Good. Then we'll have our battle in the shade.'" - Histories, 7.226

As far as Achilles, are you kidding? It's pretty easy to be brave when you're virtually invulnerable.

Answer 4

The Vikings. They were bold warriors. Also they were great explorers. They discovered the new world before Columbus. They were also successful merchants and traders. My ancestor was Eric the Red. He discovered Iceland and Greenland

Answer 5

The spartans from Greece and i love their art.

Answer 6

The Indians.

Answer 7

"Andra mi enepe mousa polytropo "
and the line is.... for ULYSSES.

Homer created two(2) epic poems.
ILIAD..: where he describes all the heroes and "gods" who participated in Trojan war.
and "ULYSSES" or in greek "Odyseus"where describes the mastermind of the Victory in Trojan war.

This is how other describe him.

"Unhappy Odysseus, he does not know the sufferings that await him; or how these ills I and my Phrygians endure shall one day seem to him precious as gold. For beyond the ten long years spent at Troy he shall drag out other ten and then come to his country all alone..." [Cassandra. Euripides, Daughters of Troy 431]

"Odysseus wrought no wrong in deed or word to any man in the land, as the wont is of divine kings—one man they hate and another they love. Yet he never wrought iniquity at all to any man." [Penelope to the herald Medon 5. Homer, Odyssey 4.690]

"... For nothing is greater or better than this, when man and wife dwell in a home in one accord, a great grief to their foes and a joy to their friends; but they know it best themselves." [Odysseus to Nausicaa. Homer, Odyssey 6.180]

"I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known: cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honoured of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
I am part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move." [Tennyson 1809-1892. Ulysses]

Answer 8

Sean,

Ancient and still going,
The Gurkha's,
Dependable and Proud!
Generations and Generations
and almost always on the
good side.
Extraordinary warriors!

Answer 9

palms down, the Roman Legionary. in the process the reign of Augustus, the ameliorations made to the roman military made the roman soldier an clever combating stress.information? No, i think of i will bypass on doing all your homework.

Answer 10

spartans because they were ruthless and were always ready for battle with thousnds of men