Dr Christopher Matthew teaches at Australian Catholic University, New South Wales, Australia. He wrote A Storm of Spears (2012), made a new translation of Aelian's Tactics (2012) and co-edited Beyond the Gates of Fire (2013) (all published by Pen & Sword).
"""[T]he work presents a very careful edition, in hard cover, with a good number of illustrations that help to better understanding of the contents addressed, as well as a list of abbreviations (very pertinent, given the unusualness of many of the sources consulted) and a complete index, always useful, of names and terms... the result of the volume is overall remarkable, so it can be assumed that the book will become a necessary reference for successive studies on the military and religion in the republican period.""-- ""ARYS"" ""Beginning with an overview of ceremonies surrounding warfare that were an integral part of Roman life, this volume branches into a discussion of evocatio in chapter 3, detailing the act of calling out gods who protect enemies, particularly in cities under siege. The chapter explores this concept throughout the ancient world, not just in the Roman world, and explains how various gods and their physical representations were integrated into Rome as the gods were bribed away from or invited to leave their home cities. There are further discussions on Roman military equipment and standards, including the involvement of religion. Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.""--W. J. Rafter, West Virginia University Libraries ""CHOICE, September 2021 Vol. 59 No. 1"""