greek
- Thread starter rednose
- Start date
GTnomez
Member +
Its a latin term,
'I am looking for the original Latin verse that loosely translates to
“Come home with your shield or on it.” The verse was more of a motto
amongst the Roman legions, supposedly a saying from a soldier’s mother
to her sons implying that you should win a battle (come home with your
shield) or die trying returning on your shield (the manner in which
fallen soldiers were returned home). The theory being that if you
came home without your shield, you had been a coward and fled the
battle—tossing your heavy shield aside such that you could run faster.'
Source - Google
'I am looking for the original Latin verse that loosely translates to
“Come home with your shield or on it.” The verse was more of a motto
amongst the Roman legions, supposedly a saying from a soldier’s mother
to her sons implying that you should win a battle (come home with your
shield) or die trying returning on your shield (the manner in which
fallen soldiers were returned home). The theory being that if you
came home without your shield, you had been a coward and fled the
battle—tossing your heavy shield aside such that you could run faster.'
Source - Google
350ep70gr
Member +
The above is correct. In addition when a soldier had an arrow on his back this was mean that he run away off the battle.
The ancient phrase about the shield was " η ταν η επι τας" meaning " with it (shield) or on it"
Chris
this is the first time I hear that it is a Latin verse. This was said to the Spartans before going to battle by their mother. It would be an insult to leave the battle field.
Source wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_phrases
(search for Manion flag to find the text)
ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς
Ē\ tā\n ē\ epì tâs
"Either [with] it [your shield], or on it"
Meaning "either you will win the battle, or you will die and then be carried back home on your shield".
It was said by Spartan mothers to their sons before they went out to battle to remind them of their bravery and duty to Sparta and Greece. A hoplite could not escape the field of battle unless he tossed away the heavy and cumbersome shield. Therefore losing one's shield meant desertion. (Plutarch, Moralia, 241)
Source wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_phrases
(search for Manion flag to find the text)
ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς
Ē\ tā\n ē\ epì tâs
"Either [with] it [your shield], or on it"
Meaning "either you will win the battle, or you will die and then be carried back home on your shield".
It was said by Spartan mothers to their sons before they went out to battle to remind them of their bravery and duty to Sparta and Greece. A hoplite could not escape the field of battle unless he tossed away the heavy and cumbersome shield. Therefore losing one's shield meant desertion. (Plutarch, Moralia, 241)
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