The Art of War in Elam (ca. 4200-525 BCE): Brill's Companion to War in the Ancient Iranian Empires

    Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

    Abstract

    Broadly encompassing the territory of today’s southwest Iran, Elam was an important entity of the ancient Near Eastern geopolitical landscape and is crucial to our understanding of the rise of the Achaemenid Persian empire. This study will cover the entire expanse of Elamite history stretching back to the 5thmillennium BCE to trace episodes of Elamite warfare, its characteristics and its evolution through time. Although we have little more than snippets of “war correspondence” in internal and external textual sources, the Elamites left behind a rich body of archaeological and iconographic evidence for us to contemplate. Here we will consider weaponry as both war equipment and cultural symbols, military costume, the structure of military hierarchy, tactical aspects of warfare, foreign campaigns, and Elamite involvement in foreign armies. Special attention will be given to the quintessential figure of the Elamite archer and his paraphernalia; both resonant themes in text and image throughout the millennia. It will become clear that the defensive-offensive dynamic defining Elamite warfare was one of the cornerstones of Elam’s sovereignty and cultural longevity.
    Original languageEnglish
    PublisherBrill
    Number of pages8000
    Publication statusIn preparation - 1 Mar 2020

    Publication series

    NameBrill's Companion to War in the Ancient Iranian Empires
    PublisherBrill

    Keywords

    • Elam
    • warfare
    • bow
    • archery
    • war
    • sling

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