August 2008

Imitation is the sincerest form of Flattery

28th June 2008

Another HA wedding

The Hoplite Association celebrated it's second wedding on Saturday June 28th, when Ash and Pat tied the knot.

The proud groom was escorted to his stunning bride by four hunky hoplites, who also formed the guard of honour at the church and escorted the happy pair back to the reception tent.

A wonderful day was had by all and we wish Ash and Pat all the very best for their future life together.

October 2007

The military book publishers, Osprey, have come out with another title looking at the famous stand at Thermopylae and whilst no credits are there for the Hoplite Association, look carefully at the illustrations of hoplites and the shield devices they carry. It is flattering to think that we still influence reconstructive thinking and it is a pretty good book too! See here

20th September 2007

Paul Allen

On the 20th September 2008 Paul Allen, who had been a member of the Hoplite Association since 2003, an active member of numerous other societies, a 'professional' historical performer for schools, museums and historic sites and someone who was very well known amongst the cyberspace world of reenactment discussion groups passed away.

Tragically this was caused by an accident whilst filming for the Channel 4 'Time Team' programme, and was the result of a freak accident whilst doing a jousting demonstration. The specific details are, perhaps, less important here than the fact that it was quick, he would not have suffered and that he was doing the thing he enjoyed most. Living the past.

For those who are not reenactors this might be difficult to understand, but the relationships you form with people are very similar to those formed within families. For short, intense periods of time we live and exist so closely with each other that you could describe every little hair on someone's arm, and Paul had a few of those...and not just on his arms! We learn both good points and bad, and those certainly were not exclusive to Paul, and we argue and make up constantly. Just like families do all the time. The passing of one of your 'family' always hits you hard.

Everyone will have their own memories and they are unlikely to fade as the one thing everyone would agree on was that Paul was certainly no wallflower and would make his points with a certain amount of gusto and his own, inimitable flair. He also had strong opinions which he would rigorously defend. We have no doubt that since that terrible day he has been trawling around heaven looking for veterans of the Greek Persian wars trying to substantiate his theories.. and that is a thought that makes us smile.

As a born again Christian and devoted husband to an equally devoted Sharon our hearts go out to her. Nothing can take away the pain, but unlike many who walk this life he has left behind a footprint that is unlikely to fade.

ACOUS-ETAY, DORY EPOWMADON, APERK-ETAY, Paul Allen

10 August 2007

September 2007 will see the launch of a new book from Dorling Kindersley (www.dk.com) called "Soldier: a visual history of the fighting man", which charts combatants from the 5th Century bce up to the present day in large, full colour, high quality, detailed photographs of both original and reproduction equipment. Of particular interest to us is the first section on the ancient greeks - all the equipment photographed having been supplied by Hoplite Association members and, in some instances, having been made by them as well!

This is the sort of book anyone with an interest in military history would kill for.... well not literally, but you will understand the meaning. They have made use of reenactors to supply equipment not readily available from museums, but have drawn on a very wide range of specialists and material to construct what has to be said is an impressive book.

Despite only being in hardback on launch, the cover price of £25 seems cheap for what you get. So if you have a wide interest in the fighting 'man' through the ages this could be worth checking out. But when you do, dwell a short while on the first few pages.....

30th June 2007

A Hoplite Association First

11.00 on the 30th June, 2007 in the quaint little town of Exeter, a historic occasion for the Hoplite Association - our first wedding. Mark and Kelly not only declared their everlasting devotion to each other, but the theme of the wedding was ancient Greece and they got married in kit... supported by a number of members who were also suitably attired.

Like all weddings things never went quite to plan, but it was big smiles all day long and who cares about plans anyway? We didn't really need alcohol to enhance the spirits, although there was plenty, and the Greco Turkish feast was superb. The registrars took photographs to show future would be bride and groom's what is possible, the guests from the next wedding must have used up half their film taking photos of our wedding and the wedding 'breakfast' venue is planning a similar photographic display on their walls.

Fame!
But all of that aside it was Kelly and Mark's day and in the good tradition of weddings there were tears, there was laughter and there was a lot of love in the air.
From all in the Association, our most heartfelt wishes for the future - and please remember we need some new recruits, so please start with the preliminaries for making 'stuff' happen as soon as possible, because rumours are that it could be a good few months before they can appear.

Wedding Photo Album

May 2007

HA at Tarraco Viva 2007

Paul Allen and Steve Senior visited Tarroca Viva in Tarragona this month, as representatives of the HA. They were there as guests of the Spanish Hoplite group "Athenea Promakhos"

Steve reported:

" Firstly we extend our thanks to their group founder & leader Eduardo Guillen for inviting us and making our stay so enjoyable, and also we extend out thanks to all members of his group who made us feel very welcome and part of their display.

This is the ninth year that Tarraco Viva has been staged in the city of Tarragona, founded by Scipio in the 1st century AD, and seems to be growing each year. This is the first occasion that the Hoplite Association has taken part and both Paul and myself did our bit to advance the cause and reputation of the HA.
The event proper took place during last weekend with us joining Athenea Promakhos in their living history camp and for the two arena displays, last one being at 7:00pm (ish). The show itself finished around 9:00pm each day so we were pretty knackered at the end.

With Paul and myself the group managed an impressive turnout of 25 hoplites and 5 peltest & psiloi. The arena displays each day began with a general explaination of the period history, followed by introduction & explaination of the different troop types and styles of fighting. Then various formations, phalanx charge at the public and finally an impressive and very realistic 12 hoplite on 12 hoplite phalanx combat with peltest javelins sailing over our heads.

Altogether a great experience and one that we have been invited toattend each year. In fact, Eduardo has said that he will give HA members an open invitation to attend any of the 5 or 6 events his group attend each year in Spain, including the event at the Greek polis city of Ampurias which is in two weeks time, but then around the same date each year.
Next year Eduardo is hoping to have a larger plot at Ampurias (hence the PR efforts put into Tarraco Viva this year) and would like to invited hoplite groups from around the world in an effort to create an arena display involving 60 plus hoplites. I have offered the support of the HA and hope to be accompanied by as many members as possible for this - so this is your 12 month first warning order!!!!!!!

Anyway, full report and pictures will be posted on the website as soon as Eduardo sends me the official pictures and movies, but for the time being heres a quick picture of Paul and myself working hard and enhancing the international reputation of the HA

Steve

The recruits get smaller every year

31 March 2007

British Museum - Gosport

Paul Allen organised an event for the British Museum in Gosport and with the support of other HA members helped them launch the Britsih Museum's "Athletes, Warriors & Heros" travelling roadshow which may be coming to a local museum near you over the next couple of years.

The day consisted of leading a procession of local community groups who had all prepared for this event by making themselves costumes, including chariots, and doing something of a show & tell afterwards. Paul also presented the British Museum with a full panoply which can be seen worn by the "octopus" designed aspis hoplite.

The British Museum roadshow was exhibiting numerous artifacts from our period including some that had not been on public show for more than 100 years, so quite a treat for us to see them. See http://www.hants.org.uk/greeks/ for show details.