2006/10/30 by Michael B. Charles · 2 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Eurasian Exchange Networks #Byzantine Studies and History #Ancient Near East History #Ancient history #Monarchy #Empire #History #Persian #Period (music) #Art #Law #Political science #Philosophy #Theology #Aesthetics #Politics
paper · doi:10.2143/ia.42.0.2017880
openalex publication_date 2006/10/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
The Sassanian Persians used elephants on various occasions against the armies of the Later Roman Empire. This article considers when elephants were first incorporated into the Sassanian army, why they were thought necessary, their deployment and equipment during the period in question, and the degree to which the Sassanian way of elephant warfare differed from that of neighbouring peoples. In addition, the paper proposes a close association between the use of elephants and Persian notions of kingship. Much emphasis is placed on the martial activities of Shapur II and the testimony of the Greek soldier-historian Ammianus Marcellinus.