Aineias the Tactician: How to Survive Under Siege

by David Whitehead

The author, in the mid-fourth century BC, of "How to Survive Under Siege", Aineias the Tactician is not only the earliest but also the most historically interesting of the ancient military writers. The last 20 years have witnessed a growing appreciation of his importance as a social commentator on the nature of life and the strategic and psychological preoccupations in a typical Greek city-state at a time dominated by two extraordinary and untypical ones, Athens and Sparta. In Aineias we see what conditions were like in a "polis" obliged to play the passive role in the history of its age: not laying siege but suffering it. His recommendations on this clearly derive from his own accumulated experience, but he also draws copious illustrative material from other writers including Herodotus and Thucydides. The author provides a comprehensive introduction and a full historical commentary.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Classics

236 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 1990

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting notes from Aineias' time, but constantly having to go between the translated text and the translator's comments (which are very numerous and not very insightful or helpful at times) slowed the pace of what was originally a short piece.

[Noah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

dumbass don't write this book. conspirators and rebels know your tricks now

[James Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction, good commentary, interesting content.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

thus far, the best strategy to use when fighting on your own turf. apparently, it discusses military tactics that we still use today!