Aristeia promachón

The publication focuses on the military values of the best Greek warriors, their heroic deeds on the battlefield, and the cultural and philosophical ideals associated with the concept of aristeia. Aristeia is a Greek term for exceptionally brave behaviour in battle, a testament to a man's courage and worth as a warrior – it was one of the defining principles of the Greek world. Closely related were other key values, such as aristeion (reward for heroism), timē (honour), kleos (glory), aretē (virtue, excellence), kalokagathia (harmony of body and soul), andreia and andragathia (bravery). The book describes the evolution and transformation of the ideal of aristeia both horizontally (chronologically) and vertically (socially). It pays special attention to the different ways this principle was understood by the hippeis, the equestrian aristocracy, and by the hoplites, the heavy infantry who came onto the scene after the so-called hoplite revolution.