Судан и Большой Ближний Восток

352 IV. Ближний Восток и его соседи Roman manner. They decorate their belts and bridles and swords very richly with silver”. 1 “Their native battle formations are both square and oblong”; the same formation was used in marching as well and Leo comments that this formation was more secure and not easy to break and he believes, that though they have trained in various formations, they imitate the Romans in many respects; they learned from the damages they have suffered from the Romans and they used this experience in war tactics. 2 The Saracen’s military tactics were determined by firm resistance to opponents’ attacks and the same steadfast resistance was noticed on foot battles and in sea confrontations. 3 For Leo, the fact that “neither when they are pursuing nor are being pursued do they break their formation”, was decisive. If they break their formation, they loose their cohesion, they don’t turn back and they are racing to save themselves. 4 A natural attribute, due to the climate of the hot environment in which they dwell, is their hot temperament. 5 This remark is coupled with Leo’s observations that “this people is hurt by cold… and heavy rain” and that consequently “attacks against them should be launched in such times”. 6 It’s in accordance with this observation, the fact that 1 Taktika ,18, 110, (p. 476f.). On the armor, the use of helmets, bows etc., cf. Kolias, The Taktika (1984); T. G. Kolias, Byzantinische Waffen. Ein Beitrag zur byzantinischenWaffenkunde von den Anfängen bis zur lateinischen Eroberung , Vienna 1988, 112f., 135f., 141, 206f., 224. 2 Taktika , 18, 113–114, 550–556 (p. 478f.), specifically 114, 555–6: “ἐξ ὧν ἔπαθον παρὰ Ῥωμαίων δρᾶν κατ’ αὐτῶν ἐπιτηδεύοντες”: “so the very things they suffered from the Romans they are now busily putting into practice against them”. 3 Taktika , 18, 116–117, 560–572 (p. 480f.). 4 Taktika , 18, 111, 538–540 (p. 478f.). 5 Taktika , 18, 108, 522 (p. 476f.): “ Θερμοὶ δέ εἰσι τὴν κράσιν ἐν τοιούτῳ κλίματι θερμῷ κατοικοῦντες”. 6 Taktika , 18, 118 (p. 480f.): “This people are hurt by cold, by winter, and by heavy rain. It is best, therefore, to launch attacks against them at such times rather than in good weather. Their bow strings become slack when it is wet and because of the cold their whole body will become sluggish. Often while making their incursions and plundering raids at such times, they have been overcome by the Romans and destroyed”. Cf. Taktika , 18, 120, 584–588 (p. 482f.).