Hi Gene and Patrick, welcome on board!

Hello everyone. I've always been interested, but for years just as part of general military history. A few years ago I started a Masters in Classical Studies with the Open University, largely because I needed some intellectual stimulation and it was the first course I stumbled on that seemed right. That opened up the ancient world for me, and I reread Thucydides and was introduced to Hansen, Kagan etc. The course was wonderful, and I have nothing but praise for the OU. I got the degree earlier this year and have now got a provisional agreement from an academic to supervise a PhD. I want to research the development of artillery in the late Classical and Hellenistic periods.
I live on a small farm in Ireland and am looking forward to getting my first issue of AW.

Hello everyone,

My name is Daniel, I'm 28 years old, originally from Canada, now living and teaching English in South Korea.

I have my bachelor of arts in Ancient History and Anthropology and I am looking into doing my masters in Ancient History in the near future.

I have to say that the warfare aspect has always been of great interest to me, but after taking an Ancient Warfare course for my undergrad I was hooked. I can't say who I am more interested in studying, as all groups and periods are extremely fascinating once you look more into them, but I loved reading Hansen's books on hoplite warfare and I wrote several papers on the tactics employed by the hoplites as well as the emergence of the hoplon.

However, for my Master's I believe I want to focus on the Achaemenid Empire and the rise of Darius. Not sure how many of you have looked into this period in great detail, but I highly recommend it. The political maneuvering of the satraps following the death of Cyrus puts the Romans to shame. If any of you are looking into the Achaemenids I suggest picking up "From Cyrus to Alexander" by Pierre Briant. An excellent book that covers this period in extensive detail.

But aside from that, I love reading about all the ancient battles, from the Persian wars to the Germanic wars. Also I am a huge chess fan, I enjoy martial arts, and I love reading historical fiction (although they are full of errors, but its fun to find the discrepancies) and military fantasy (like Erikson and Cook). I look forward to tossing some ideas around with some of you once I begin my research, as I will be doing my Master's through correspondence and could use some extra feedback once in a while.

Cheers,

Daniel

Hello, my name is Peter. I live in Australia. My main interests into ancient warfare stemed from reading classical literature by Livy, Tacitus etc. I've been an ancients wargamer for about 25 years now, mainly 15mm due to size and larger armies on the battle field. I also do some re-enacting and a have a nice suit of chain mail (hamata), assorted helmets and gladii etc. I also collect ancient roman and greek coins. I'm a specialist in Nuclear Medicine, but run my own small scientific supply company instead of being exposed to ionising radiation. Less money but a much happier lifestyle! Im also an amateur astronomer with an interest in the paranormal.

Hello everybody,

Time for me to introduce myself. My name is Paul, I'm 29 years old and I live Santpoort the Netherlands. I'm an adviser for a semi-government company and in my free hours I study law.

I always loved to read about history, especially the Roman empire. The only tv I ever watch is History Channel, Discovery and other channels like that.

I don't remember how I got to this website, but I did. I subscribed to the magazine and I love it! My only complain is that I do not have the time to read all the articles. But summer is coming and that means a break from school. I don't know what I will be doing but I know my ancient warfare magazines are coming with me.

Paul

hello, my name is Ashley Amidon, and I am a student (and life-long enthusiast of ancient Rome). I am 22, and live currently in the USA, but hope to relocate back to the UK for further study. I wrote my MA thesis on just war theory in Julius Caesar's incursions into Gaul, and am hoping to parlay that into a PHD on just war theory in late republican Rome.

I have loved history all my life, but I have always been particularly fascinated with ancient Republican Rome, to the point I used to dress my dolls up in togas! I am glad to have stumbled upon a group of people who love ancient military history as much as I do.