The Greek military camp in the ten thousand´s army

Abstract

The first and main conclusion of this study of the Xenophon´s works is that the Greek military camp should be the subject of research and should get more than ten pages at most in any handbook on Greek warfare. Once the castramental vocabulary problem is resolved, and we know the exact difference on meaning between words like τὸ στρατόπεδον, τὰ ὄπλα or σκηνὲω, it will be possible to attempt an approximation to Greek castramental theory of the 4th century as it would have been described in lost contemporary works, such as the one by Aeneas Tacticus. The Greek military camp seems to have had a high level of professional organisation, with a regular plan and internal structure, a very sophisticated watch guard system and a routine that shows the generals concern for the order and discipline of their troops. Inside the camp it was the συσκηνὶα (the group of soldiers who shared the same tent) the basic logistical (and also probably, tactical) unit in the Greek armies on campaign.