The Persian warrior by Procopius : a contribution to military ethnography of Late Antiquity

Bibliogr. ; Streszcz. w jęz. ang.

From 5th c. BC onwards the image of the Persian warrior was an important factor for Greek and Roman self-understanding. Late Antiquity broke with the early tradition of contempt, which depicted the Persians as week and effeminate. In Procopius’ Wars, Persian kings, aristocrats and simple soldiers may represent many vices: cruelty, avarice, arrogance, but there is no hint of softness or cowardice. As for martial virtues, the courage of the Persians is referred to by terms like arete, which indicates a reasonable attitude, not irrational, animal-like audacity. In some aspects the Persians are depicted even as less soft then the Romans: their laws are more severe; they are more disciplined and more restrained in eating and drinking. Procopius shows little sympathy for them, but at the same time respects them as dangerous, tough enemies.