Еще раз о "героической наготе"

Abstract

Interest to the problems of ancient warfare and the Spartan Army as the part of it has increased lately. A. K. Nefiodkin from St. Petersburg wrote some articles on the topic: Spartan Uniform: the Peculiarities of the Lacedaemonian Military Equipment in the 7th–4th Centuries BC. One of the aspects, chosen by the author, is highly attractive as it touches upon the problem of so-called “heroic nudity”. It is a well-known fact that iconography of classical period often presents warriors either half-armored or even naked. Some of the scholars tried to prove that in those times Greeks did not used body-armor, such as the corselet and greaves. However, iconography cannot be considered as a true and representative historic source. At least it is important to take into consideration the peculiarities of this kind of art. But still, even modern scholars in their works try to ignore the specific characteristics of the Epoch. For example, the mentioned above scientist Nefiodkin, being captured by the stereotypes, concludes that the Spartan warriors of late 5 century BC used no armor but for the hoplite shield and pylos-helmet. Moreover, Nefiodkin considers that the warriors fought absolutely naked. Emphasizing the sacral motivation of nudity with Greeks, the author comes to quite doubtful conclusions, projecting them onto the reality of the Martial Art. Quotations, given to prove the author’s idea, seem to be either doubtful or sometimes even controversial. Nefiodkin states that the warriors had no footwear—figures of the written tradition prove it used to be vice versa. Finally, he turns to the iconography, but does not take into account the very peculiarities of the above. There’s nothing to do but to admit that the old idea, being criticized so many times finds no confirmation.