Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Volume/Issue:
Volume 63: Issue 1
Un aspetto dell'intelligence nel mondo greco: la parola d'ordine
Author:
Elena Santagati Dipartimento di Civiltà Antiche e Moderne, Università degli Studi di Messina, Italy

Search for other papers by Elena Santagati in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7709-5672
Pages:
9–24
Online Publication Date:
01 Aug 2023
Publication Date:
30 Aug 2023
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/068.2023.00082
Keywords:
intelligence; password; war; signal; military treatise
Restricted access

Abstract

In the ancient world, visual and verbal σύνθημα appears to be of enormous importance during conflicts. It is one of the elements pertaining to the management and organization of political intelligence. In particular, the signal, declined in the verbal form, for its fundamental function of ‘recognition’ to validate the belonging of a soldier to a particular side, had to be chosen with great care. Its use appears to have intensified and, at the same time, perfected, according to what can be gathered from historiographical evidence and from military treatises, at the time of the transition between the Classical and Hellenistic eras, when the way of waging war also underwent an important transformation.

  • AA. VV. (2000). La guerre : Comptes rendus. Annales HSS ,55: 153–197.

  • Ampolo, C. (ed.) (2006). Guerra e pace in Sicilia e nel Mediterraneo antico (VIII–III sec. a.C.). Arte, prassi e teoria della pace e della guerra. Pisa.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Anderson, J.K. (1970). Military Theory and Practice in the Age of Xenophon .Berkeley – Los Angeles.

  • Aymard, A. (1968). Mercenariat et histoire grecque. Annales de l’Est, 22(1959): 16–27 = Études d'histoire ancienne. Paris, pp. 487–498.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Battistini, O. (comm.) – Charvet, P. – Ozanam, A.M. (tr. fr.) (1994). La guerre. Trois tacticiens grecs: Ènèe, Asclépiodote, Onasandre. Paris.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bellucci, N.D. (2016). I “moti” della meccanica meravigliosa: ipotesi sul De Arbitriis Mirabilibus. Humanitas, 68: 125–150.

  • Bettalli, M. (a cura di, intr., tr. it., comm.) (1990). Enea Tattico, La difesa di una città assediata (Poliorketika). Pisa.

  • Bettalli, M. (1995). I mercenari nel mondo greco. Dalle origini alla fine del V sec. a.C. Pisa.

  • Bettalli, M. (2011a). Guerre tra polemologi. Dodici anni di studi sulla guerra nel mondo greco antico 1998–2009. Quaderni di storia, 73: 235–308.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bettalli, M. (2011b). Gli studi italiani sulla guerra nel mondo greco antico 1985–2010. In: Labanca, N. (a cura di), Storie di guerre ed eserciti. Gli studi italiani di storia militare negli ultimi venticinque anni .Milano, pp. 173–187.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bettalli, M. (2013). Mercenari. Il mestiere delle armi nel mondo greco antico .Roma.

  • Bianco, E. (1997). Gli Stratagemmi di Polieno. Introduzione, traduzione e note critiche .Alessandria.

  • Bosworth, A.B. (1993). Arrian and Rome: The Minor Works. ANRW II 34.1. Berlin – New York, pp. 226–275.

  • Bradford, J.C. (ed.) (2006). International Encyclopedia of Military History. New York.

  • Briant, P. (1996). Histoire de l’Empire Perse. De Cyrus à Alexandre. Paris.

  • Burliga, B. (2008). Aeneas Tacticus between History and Sophistry: The Emergence of the Military Handbook. In: Pigon, J. (ed.), The Children of Herodotus. Greek and Roman Historiography and Related Genres. Newcastle, pp. 92–101.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Burliga, B. (2012). The Importance of the Hoplite Army in Eeneas Tacticus’ Polis. Electrum ,19: 61–81.

  • Busetto, A. (2013). La Tattica di Arriano tra filologia, letteratura ed epigrafia. In: Gheller, V. (a cura di), Ricerche a confronto. Dialoghi di Antichità Classiche e del Vicino Oriente (Bologna-Trento, 2011). Vicenza, pp. 186–194, 200–201.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cambiano, G. (1998). Archimede meccanico e la meccanica di Archita. Elenchos ,19(2): 289–324.

  • Corvisier, A. (ed.) (1988). Dictionnaire d’art et d’histoire militaires. Paris.

  • Corvisier, J.N. (2005). 1985–2005: vingt ans de travaux sur la guerre grecque antique (I). Revue des études militaires anciennes, 2: 32–55.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Corvisier, J.N. (2006). 1985–2005: vingt ans de travaux sur la guerre grecque antique (suite et fin). Revue des études militaires anciennes, 3: 29–74.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cristofori, A. (2002). La guerra. In: Settis, S. (a cura di), I Greci ,vol. 4: Atlante I .Torino, pp. 421–526.

  • Dain, A. (ed. par, texte établi et tr.) (1967). Énee le Tacticien, Poliorcétique. Paris.

  • Di Cataldo, F. (2009–2010). Eliano, la «Tactica Theoria». Testo critico, traduzione e commento dei capitoli I–XXVII. PhD Thesis, Università di Catania, XXIII ciclo, a.a.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Di Pasquale, G. (2004). Tecnologia e meccanica trasmissione dei saperi tecnici dall’eta ellenistica al mondo romano .Firenze.

  • Diels, H. – Schramm, E. (1920). Exzerpte aus Philons Mechanik B. VII und VIII (Vulgo Fünftes Buch), Griechisch und Deutsch. Abhandlungen der Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Historische Klasse, Jahrg. 1919 no. 12. Verlag der Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ducrey, P. (1997). Aspects de l’histoire de la guerre en Grèce ancienne 1945-1996. In: Brule, P. – Oulhen, J. (éd.), Esclavage, Guerre, Économie en Grèce ancienne: hommages à Yvon Garlan .Rennes, pp. 123–138.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ducrey, P. (2000). Les aspects économiques de l’usage de mercenaires dans la Grèce ancienne: avantages et inconvénients du recours à une main-d’œuvre militaire rémunérée. In: Andreau, J. – Briant, P. – Descat, R. (textes rassembles par), Économie antique. La guerre dans les économies antiques. Saint Bertrand de Comminges, pp. 197–209.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Due, B. (1989). The Cyropaedia: Xenophon’s Aims and Methods .Aarhus.

  • Engels, D. (1980). Alexander’s Intelligence System. Classical Quarterly ,30: 327–340.

  • Eramo, I. (2021). Precetti per gestire l’imperium. Nota a Onasandro, Strategikos, proemio 1. Dialogues d’histoire ancienne ,47(2): 239–250.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ferrari, G.A. (1984). Meccanica ‘allargata’. In: Giannantoni, G. – Vegetti, M. (a cura di), La scienza ellenistica. Napoli, pp. 225–296.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Franchi, E. – Proietti, G. (2015). Guerra e memoria. Paradigmi antichi e moderni tra polemologia e memory studies. In: Franchi, E. – Proietti, G. (a cura di), Guerra e memoria nel mondo antico. Trento, pp. 17–125.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Frisone, F. (2008). Tra reazione e integrazione: Thurii nel contesto magnogreco. In: Atene e la Magna Grecia dall’età arcaica all’ellenismo. Atti del Quarantesimo Convegno di Studi sulla Magna Grecia (Taranto 27-30 settembre 2007) .Taranto, pp. 233–276.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Galimberti, A. (2002). Lo Strategikòs di Onasandro. In: Sordi, M. (a cura di), Guerra e diritto nel mondo greco e romano. CISA 28. Milano, pp. 141–154.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Garlan, Y. (1965). Études d’histoire militaire et diplomatique I–IV. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 89.2: 342–348.

  • Garlan, Y. (1969). Études d’histoire militaire et diplomatique V–VI. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 93.1: 152–161.

  • Garlan, Y. (1970). Études d’histoire militaire et diplomatique I–IV. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 94: 625–635.

  • Garlan, Y. (1974a). Études d’histoire militaire et diplomatique IX–XI. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 98.1: 95–118.

  • Garlan, Y. (1974b). Recherches de poliorcétique grecque .Athens – Paris.

  • Garlan, Y. (1976). Études d’histoire militaire et diplomatique XII–XIV. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 100.1: 299–308.

  • Garlan, Y. (1978). Études d’histoire militaire et diplomatique XV–XVI. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique, 102.1: 97–108.

  • Giacomello, G. – Badialetti, G.M. (2009). Manuale di studi strategici: da Sun Tzu alle nuove guerre. Milano.

  • Griffith, G.T. (1935). The Mercenaries of the Hellenistic World .Cambridge.

  • Guillaumin, J.-Y. (2002). Pneumatica. In: Mastrorosa, I. (a cura di), Letteratura scientifica e tecnica di Grecia e Roma .Roma, pp. 413–423.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hanson, V.D. (1999). The Status of Ancient Military History: Traditional Work, Recent Research and On-going Controversies. Journal of Military History, 63: 379–414.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hanson, V.D. (2007). The Modern Historiography of Ancient Warfare. In: Sabin, P. – Van Wees, H. – Whitby, M. (eds.), The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare, vol. I: Greece, the Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome. Cambridge, pp. 3–21.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Iglesias Zoido, J.C. (2011). Guerra y cultura en la Antigüedad. In: Lendon, J.E. (ed.), Soldados y fantasmas: Mito y tradición en la Antigüedad Clásica. Barcelona, pp. 5–12.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Keegan, J. (1993). A History of Warfare .New York.

  • Kilani, M. (2008). Guerra e sacrificio. Trad. it. V. Carrassi. Bari.

  • Krentz, P. – Wheeler, E.L. (1994). Polyaenus Stratagems of War .Chicago.

  • Landucci Gattinoni, F. (2001). I mercenari e l’ideologia della guerra. In: Sordi, M. (a cura di), Il pensiero sulla guerra nel mondo antico. CISA 27. Milano, pp. 65–85.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Landucci Gattinoni, F. (2002). Il ruolo dei mercenari nella nascita dei regni ellenistici. In: Sordi, M. (a cura di), Guerra e diritto nel mondo greco e romano .CISA 28. Milano, pp. 123–139.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Landucci Gattinoni, F. (2011). Le tecniche militari nella Grecia classica ed ellenistica. Nuova Secondaria, 28: 68–71.

  • Lawrence, A.W. (1979). Greek Aims in Fortification .Oxford.

  • Lonis, R. (1985). La guerre en Grèce. Quinze années de recherche: 1968–1983. Revue des études grecques ,98: 321–379.

  • Loreto, L. (1995). Il generale e la biblioteca. La trattatistica militare greca da Democrito di Abdera ad Alessio I Comneno. In: Cambiano, G. – Canfora, L. – Lanza, D. (a cura di), Lo spazio letterario della Grecia antica, vol. II. Roma, pp. 563–589.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Loreto, L. (2006). Per la storia militare del mondo antico. Prospettive retrospettive. Napoli.

  • Losada, L.A. (1972). The Fifth Column in the Peloponnesian War .Leiden.

  • Malešević, S. (2010). The Sociology of War and Violence. Cambridge.

  • Malešević, S. (2014). Is War Becoming Obsolete? A Sociological Analysis. The Sociological Review, 62: 65–86.

  • Martel, G. (ed.) (2012). The Encyclopedia of War. 5 vols. Malden.

  • Oldfather, W.A. – Pease, A.S. – Titchener, J.B. (eds) (1923). Aeneas Tacticus, Asclepiodotus, Onasander .Cambridge, pp. 368–526.

  • Parmeggiani, G. (2005). Diodoro e la crisi delle egemonie nel IV secolo a.C. In: Bearzot, C. – Landucci, F. (a cura di), Diodoro e l’altra Grecia. Macedonia, Occidente, Ellenismo nella Biblioteca storica. Milano, pp. 67–104.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Petrocelli, C. (a cura di) (2008). Onasandro, Il generale. Manuale per l’esercizio del comando .Bari.

  • Prager, F.D. (ed.) (1974). Philo of Byzantium: Pneumatica .Wiesbaden.

  • Prestianni Giallombardo, A.M. (1991). Recenti testimonianze iconografiche sulla kausia in Macedonia e la datazione del fregio della caccia della II tomba reale di Vergina. Dialogues d’histoire ancienne, 17: 257–304.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Prestianni Giallombardo, A.M. (1993). Un copricapo dell’equipaggiamento militare macedone: la kausia. Numismatica e antichità classiche, 22: 61–90.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Pretzler, M. – Barley, N. (eds) (2018). Brill’s Companion to Aineias Tacticus. Leiden.

  • Pritchett, W.K. (1974–1991). The Greek States at War. 5 vols. Berkeley.

  • Prontera, F. (2003). La geografia di Polibio: tradizione e innovazione. In: Santos Yanguas, J. – Torregaray Pagola, E. (eds.), Polybío y la peninsula ibérica. Revisiones de Historia Antigua, 4: 103–111.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rance, P. (2013). Philo of Byzantium. In: Bagnall, R.S., et alii (eds), The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Malden, pp. 5266–5268.

  • Reincke, G. (1935). Nachrichtenwesen. RE XVI s.v., coll. 1496–1541.

  • Repellini F.F. (1989). Tecnologie e macchine. In: Momigliano, A. – Schiavone, A. (a cura di), Storia di Roma, vol. 4. Torino, pp. 323–368.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Repellini F.F. (1993). Matematica, astronomia e meccanica. In: Cambiano, G. – Canfora, L. – Lanza, D. (a cura di), Lo spazio letterario della Grecia antica, vol. 2. Roma, pp. 305–343.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Richmond, J.A. (1998). Spies in Ancient Greece. Greece and Rome, 45(1): 1–18.

  • Russo, L. (2019). Archimede, un grande scienziato antico .Roma.

  • Sabin, P. – Van Wees, H. – Whitby M. (eds) (2007). The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare, vol. I: Greece, the Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome; vol. II: Rome from the Late Republic to the Late Empire .Cambridge.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Santagati, E. (2021). Filone di Bisanzio. Μηχανικὴ Σύνταξις. La costruzione delle mura .Roma.

  • Schettino, T. (1998). Introduzione a Polieno. Pisa.

  • Schöne, R. (1893). Philonis Mechanicae Syntaxis libri quartus et quintus .Berlin.

  • Schwartz, E. (1893). Aineias 3. RE I s.v., coll. 1019–1021.

  • Sestili, A. (2010). Strategikos. Manuale per il comandante dell’esercito .Aprilia.

  • Sordi, M. (a cura di) (1984). I santuari e la guerra nel mondo classico .CISA 10. Milano.

  • Sordi, M. (1988). Gli interessi geografici e topografici nelle Elleniche di Senofonte. In: Sordi, M. (a cura di), Geografia e storiografia nel mondo antico .CISA 14. Milano, pp. 32–40.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sordi, M. (a cura di) (1990). “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”. La morte in combattimento nell’antichità. CISA 16. Milano.

  • Sordi, M. (a cura di) (2001). Il pensiero sulla guerra nel mondo antico. CISA 27. Milano.

  • Sordi, M. (a cura di) (2002a). Guerra e diritto nel mondo greco e romano .CISA 28. Milano.

  • Sordi, M. (2002b). Tendenze storiografiche e realtà storica nella liberazione della Cadmea in Plut. Pel. 5–13. In: Scritti di storia greca .Milano, pp. 539–548.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Stadter, P.A. (1980). Arrian of Nicomedia .Chapel Hill.

  • Starr, C.G. (1974). Political intelligence in Classical Greece .Leiden.

  • Trundle, M.F. (1999). Identity and Community among Greek Mercenaries in the Classical World: 700–322 BCE. Ancient history bulletin ,13: 28–38.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Trundle, M.F. (2004). Greek Mercenaries: From the Late Archaic Period to Alexander .London – New York.

  • Vela Tejada, J. (ed.) (1991). Eneas el Tactico, Poliorcetica. La estrategia militar griega en el siglo 4. a. C. Madrid.

  • Vela Tejada, J. (1993). Tradicíon y originalidad en la obra de Eneas el Táctico: la génesis de la historiografía militar. Minerva ,7: 79–92.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vela Tejada, J. (2004). Warfare, History and Literature in the Archaic and Classical Periods: The Development of Greek Military Treatises. Historia ,53: 129–146.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wheeler, E.C. (1977). Flavius Arrianus: A Political and Military Biography. Diss. Duke University, Durham.

  • Wheeler, E.C. (1988). Stratagem and the Vocabulary of Military Trickery .Leiden.

  • Wheeler, E.C. (2007). The Armies of Classical Greece .Aldershot.

  • Whitehead, D. (ed.) (1990). Aineias the Tactician, How to Survive under Siege. Oxford.

  • Whitehead, D. (ed.) (2016). Philo Mechanicus, On Sieges .Translated with Introduction and Commentary. Historia Einzelschriften 243. Stuttgart.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Print ISSN:
0044-5975
Online ISSN:
1588-2543

Senior editors

Editor(s)-in-Chief: László TAKÁCS

Managing Editor(s): 

Klára KISDI

Editorial Board

  • Tamás DEZSŐ (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest)
  • Miklós MARÓTH (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Avicenna Institute of Middle Eastern Studies)
  • Gyula MAYER (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Classical Philology Research Group)
  • János NAGYILLÉS (University of Szeged)
  • Lajos Zoltán SIMON (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest)
  • Csilla SZEKERES (University of Debrecen)
  • Kornél SZOVÁK (Pázmány Péter Catholic University)
  • Zsolt VISY (University of Pécs)

 

Advisory Board

  • Michael CRAWFORD (University College London, prof. em.)
  • Patricia EASTERLING (Newnham College, University of Cambridge, prof. em.)
  • László HORVÁTH (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest)
  • Patricia JOHNSTON (Brandeis University Boston, prof. em.)
  • Csaba LÁDA (University of Kent)
  • Herwig MAEHLER
  • Attilio MASTROCINQUE (University of Verona)
  • Zsigmond RITOÓK (Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, prof. em.)

László Takács
Acta Antiqua
Mikszáth tér 1.
H-1088 Budapest
E-mail: acta.antiqua.hung@gmail.com

Scopus
Current Contents - Arts and Humanities

ERIH PLUS

 

2024  
Scopus  
CiteScore  
CiteScore rank  
SNIP  
Scimago  
SJR index 0.184
SJR Q rank Q1

2023  
Scopus  
CiteScore 0.2
CiteScore rank Q3 (Classics)
SNIP 0.532
Scimago  
SJR index 0.111
SJR Q rank Q3

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Publication Model Hybrid
Submission Fee none
Article Processing Charge 900 EUR/article
Printed Color Illustrations 40 EUR (or 10 000 HUF) + VAT / piece
Regional discounts on country of the funding agency World Bank Lower-middle-income economies: 50%
World Bank Low-income economies: 100%
Further Discounts Editorial Board / Advisory Board members: 50%
Corresponding authors, affiliated to an EISZ member institution subscribing to the journal package of Akadémiai Kiadó: 100%
Subscription fee 2025 Online subsscription: 524 EUR / 576 USD
Print + online subscription: 600 EUR / 660 USD
Subscription Information Online subscribers are entitled access to all back issues published by Akadémiai Kiadó for each title for the duration of the subscription, as well as Online First content for the subscribed content.
Purchase per Title Individual articles are sold on the displayed price.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Language English
French
(Latin)
German
Italian
Spanish
Size B5
Year of
Foundation		 1951
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 4
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia   
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0044-5975 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2543 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Dec 2024 18 0 0
Jan 2025 60 0 0
Feb 2025 82 0 0
Mar 2025 59 0 0
Apr 2025 30 0 0
May 2025 4 0 0
Jun 2025 0 0 0