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Brillâs Companion to Diet and Logistics in Greek and Roman Warfare
Series:
The adage that an army âmarches on its stomachâ finds renewed emphasis in this collection of essays. Focusing on military diet and supply from Homer through the Roman Empire, Diet and Logistics in Greek and Roman Warfare explains regional dietary options and reassesses traditional notions of âprovisioningâ while exploring topics ranging from strategy and subterfuge to trade and terror. Through fresh insights drawn from current research and excavation spanning the Greco-Roman world, contributors confirm how providing food and drink for soldiers was critical to every armyâs success and survival. This volume stimulates reevaluation of ancient militaries and encourages new research.
John F. Donahue is Professor of Classical Studies at the College of William & Mary. He has written numerous books, articles, chapters, and reviews on ancient food and drink, as well as health, diet and Latin epigraphy.
Lee L. Brice is Distinguished University Professor of History at Western Illinois University. He has published multiple books including New Approaches to Greek and Roman Warfare (Wiley 2020), and articles and chapters on military history, Corinthian coinage, pedagogy, and film.
Contributors are: Jeremy Armstrong, Bret Devereux, Fernando Echeverria, Paul Erdkamp, Eduardo Garcia-Molina, Marc Kleijwegt, Kelsey Koon, Sarah Murray, Nikolas Overtoom, Thomas Rose, Matthew Sears, Gregory Viggiano.
Lee L. Brice is Distinguished University Professor of History at Western Illinois University. He has published multiple books including New Approaches to Greek and Roman Warfare (Wiley 2020), and articles and chapters on military history, Corinthian coinage, pedagogy, and film.
Contributors are: Jeremy Armstrong, Bret Devereux, Fernando Echeverria, Paul Erdkamp, Eduardo Garcia-Molina, Marc Kleijwegt, Kelsey Koon, Sarah Murray, Nikolas Overtoom, Thomas Rose, Matthew Sears, Gregory Viggiano.
"In conclusion, this is a fascinating volume filled with excellent papers, many of which are innovative and even groundbreaking, both in their perspectives and methodologies. This is not merely a companion volume but a foundational cornerstone in the ongoing transformation of this ever-growing and evolving field. The contributions here are significant in content, well-written and highly accessible.
Having read many edited volumes, I know they are often a mixed bag, with some often too difficult to engage with or poorly structured. This volume, however, is exceptionally well-constructed and organised, making it one of the best edited volumes I have ever read. It is a must-have for university libraries and for anyone passionate about ancient warfare and military logistics alike." Haggai Olshanetsky, De re militari, The Society for Medieval Military History, April 4 2025.
Having read many edited volumes, I know they are often a mixed bag, with some often too difficult to engage with or poorly structured. This volume, however, is exceptionally well-constructed and organised, making it one of the best edited volumes I have ever read. It is a must-have for university libraries and for anyone passionate about ancient warfare and military logistics alike." Haggai Olshanetsky, De re militari, The Society for Medieval Military History, April 4 2025.
Preface
List of Maps
Abbreviations
List of Contributors
1 Diet and Logistics in Ancient Greek and Roman Warfare, a Consideration
âJohn F. Donahue and Lee L. Brice
2 Diet, Preparation, and Consumption in Homer
âSarah C. Murray
3 Nutrition and Diet: Archaic and Classical Greece
âFernando EcheverrÃa
4 Nutrition and Diet: Hellenistic Greece
âEduardo GarcÃa-Molina
5 Diet and Nutrition in the Roman Republican Army
âJeremy Armstrong
6 The Diet of Roman Soldiers in the Northwest Provinces of the Roman Empire
âPaul Erdkamp
7 Dining in the Desert
âThe Roman Military Diet in Egypt and the East in the Imperial Period
âKelsey Koon
8 Organization of the Military Food Supply: Greece
âMatthew Sears
9 Provisioning and the Logistics of Occupation and Resistance in Early Hellenistic Greece
âThomas C. Rose
10 Logistics and Strategy in the Hellenistic World: Parthians and Seleucids
âNikolaus Leo Overtoom
11 Sieges, Deception and Bioterrorism: Logistics and Strategy of Food and Drink during the Republic
âJohn F. Donahue
12 Organization of the Military Food Supply: Rome
âBret C. Devereaux
13 Logistics and Strategy in the Greek Army: A Case Study of Diet and Logistics in Herodotus and Thucydides
âGregory Francis Viggiano
14 Equestrian Officers, Food Supply, and Military Campaigns in the Reigns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius
âMarc Kleijwegt
15 Assessing Military Logistics and Diet in Ancient Greece and Rome
âLee L. Brice
Index of Places
General Index
List of Maps
Abbreviations
List of Contributors
Part 1: Introduction
1 Diet and Logistics in Ancient Greek and Roman Warfare, a Consideration
âJohn F. Donahue and Lee L. Brice
Part 2: Military Diet
2 Diet, Preparation, and Consumption in Homer
âSarah C. Murray
3 Nutrition and Diet: Archaic and Classical Greece
âFernando EcheverrÃa
4 Nutrition and Diet: Hellenistic Greece
âEduardo GarcÃa-Molina
5 Diet and Nutrition in the Roman Republican Army
âJeremy Armstrong
6 The Diet of Roman Soldiers in the Northwest Provinces of the Roman Empire
âPaul Erdkamp
7 Dining in the Desert
âThe Roman Military Diet in Egypt and the East in the Imperial Period
âKelsey Koon
Part 3: Logistics of Food and Drink
8 Organization of the Military Food Supply: Greece
âMatthew Sears
9 Provisioning and the Logistics of Occupation and Resistance in Early Hellenistic Greece
âThomas C. Rose
10 Logistics and Strategy in the Hellenistic World: Parthians and Seleucids
âNikolaus Leo Overtoom
11 Sieges, Deception and Bioterrorism: Logistics and Strategy of Food and Drink during the Republic
âJohn F. Donahue
12 Organization of the Military Food Supply: Rome
âBret C. Devereaux
Part 4: Case Studies
13 Logistics and Strategy in the Greek Army: A Case Study of Diet and Logistics in Herodotus and Thucydides
âGregory Francis Viggiano
14 Equestrian Officers, Food Supply, and Military Campaigns in the Reigns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius
âMarc Kleijwegt
Part 5: In Closing
15 Assessing Military Logistics and Diet in Ancient Greece and Rome
âLee L. Brice
Index of Places
General Index
This book will be of interest to specialists and students of military and ancient history and food studies, as well as classical studies, anthropology, strategic studies, and foreign relations.