These Bronze Age/Dark Age Greece warriors aren't much different from the Vikings. They would talk about carving the 'blood eagle' on their enemies. A brutal indignity to inflict on someone alive or dead. But I'm not surprised. The Romans would ritually execute enemies in public. Public beheadings and burning at the stake were common in the Middle Ages.
Then you get into 'trophies,' which were usually a warriors arms and armor left on display on the battlefield after that enemy was killed in battle. Roman torcs, awarded to legionaries for bravery, came from the torcs worn by Celtic warriors and originally taken from their bodies. Status was fought over for as long as wars and raids have occurred. Go far back enough, and status was gained from stealing livestock, captives for ransom/slavery, and other portable symbols of wealth.
Taking arms and armor also just sounds like common sense to me, as well, if the taker ends up using it. That's expensive equipment.
A first century Roman would have re-used the helmet of a fallen fellow soldier [not enemy in that case] and then added his own name to the helmet. We have helmets with the names of several soldiers marked into them.
These Bronze Age/Dark Age Greece warriors aren't much different from the Vikings. They would talk about carving the 'blood eagle' on their enemies. A brutal indignity to inflict on someone alive or dead. But I'm not surprised. The Romans would ritually execute enemies in public. Public beheadings and burning at the stake were common in the Middle Ages.
Then you get into 'trophies,' which were usually a warriors arms and armor left on display on the battlefield after that enemy was killed in battle. Roman torcs, awarded to legionaries for bravery, came from the torcs worn by Celtic warriors and originally taken from their bodies. Status was fought over for as long as wars and raids have occurred. Go far back enough, and status was gained from stealing livestock, captives for ransom/slavery, and other portable symbols of wealth.
*steps down from his BA in History soap box* 😁
Taking arms and armor also just sounds like common sense to me, as well, if the taker ends up using it. That's expensive equipment.
A first century Roman would have re-used the helmet of a fallen fellow soldier [not enemy in that case] and then added his own name to the helmet. We have helmets with the names of several soldiers marked into them.
True. Bronze ain't cheap, considering you needed to sail far to find tin. Armor and weapons would be a precious commodity.