Author’s Note: 2 - 12. The Cosmology of War
From The Observatory
Author’s Note: 2
The following author’s note (without an introduction or transition characteristic of his writing throughout The Creation of Order) appeared at the end of Chapter 12. Can you help us work its contents into the body of this chapter to be consistent with the rest of The Creation of Order? A new section (perhaps on military music) in Chapter 12 may be created for it to work.
Note: See also this query about a missing mention of “paean” in the Chapter 12 body.
Suggest an edit or addition for Note 2. Join the research!
Military Music (Athenaeus)
Athenaeus[1] reported (XIV.626–628, citing Herodotus[2] I.17) that music was used to provide rhythmic order for military maneuvers. The Spartans “march to battle with the music of flutes, the Cretans with the lyre, the Lydians with Pan’s pipes and flutes.” He added that “In ancient times music was an incitement to bravery.” There were war-dances with helmet, shield and spear, or sword (see Plato,[3] Laws, p. 815A), and a verse attributed to Socrates read “Whoso honor the gods best with dances are the best in war.”
- ↑ Athenaeus, The Deipnosophists: Or Banquet of the Learned of Athenaeus, C.D. Yonge (tr.), Vol. 3 (London: 1854), via Andrew Smith’s Attalus, Book 14, lines 626–628.
- ↑ Herodotus, The Histories, A.D. Godley (tr.) (Cambridge, Massachusetts: 1920), via Tufts University’s Perseus Digital Library Project, Book 1, Chapter 17.
- ↑ Plato, Laws. From Plato in Twelve Volumes, R.G. Bury (tr.), Vols. 10 and 11 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: 1967 and 1968), via Tufts University’s Perseus Digital Library Project, p. 815a.
