Bring me... the Horn of Themistius!
One other little thing I wanted to share with you all:
The Pseudo-Aristotelian Secretum Secretorum, a mirror for princes from Arabic sources that was popular in the Latin Middle Ages, contains much advice on the conduct of warfare. Among such sensible suggestions as how to build ditches and moats and use terrain and weather to one's advantage, the book suggests that at the outset of battle, one should scare the enemy with a great sound, "such as may be obtained from blowing the Horn of Themistius, which could be heard from six miles away."
I am always pleased when the Middle Ages has one of those moments of resemblance to a goofy fantasy novel.
The Pseudo-Aristotelian Secretum Secretorum, a mirror for princes from Arabic sources that was popular in the Latin Middle Ages, contains much advice on the conduct of warfare. Among such sensible suggestions as how to build ditches and moats and use terrain and weather to one's advantage, the book suggests that at the outset of battle, one should scare the enemy with a great sound, "such as may be obtained from blowing the Horn of Themistius, which could be heard from six miles away."
I am always pleased when the Middle Ages has one of those moments of resemblance to a goofy fantasy novel.