2018 Posing practice

[@Mr.HotDogShirtGuy]

“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” -Socrates

[@FultonEagle1948]

SHU YOU RITE! We mortals must strive for the Perfection Of Olympus! SPARTAN UP!

[@LookHereMars]

A beautiful and inspiring quote.

[@artv.9989]

Yeah, any guy out there is capable of actually looking like a greek god Also, does that mean that Socrates used to be jacked?

[@James-is6tg]

Please do more content! My friends and I have really fallen in love with Antiquity and Greece, your lectures are bar none the best.

[@noxxsnoxxs8043]

And now we know why Pheidippides was in a hurry it was you xD

[@trying58]

Amazing physique!

[@fatman4792]

looking like kratos! going to have to see a viking armor presentation soon

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: You can use a large round center grip wicker shield with rawhide facing with combination with a spear in a group-formation too, not just the Aspis. Now one thing I agree with you though, is that a Aspis-shield will last longer than a wicker shield because the Aspis-shield is much more durable, you will still have a Aspis-shield for years as for a center grip wicker shield, it might last for several years but eventually you might have to get it fixed in which might cost you money or you a might take some labor to fix the wicker center grip shield.

[@PatrasPhantom]

Looking damn good sir!

[@FultonEagle1948]

Damn Good!

[@redeemer647]

Our Spartan is back

[@makanesissoko1684]

Well done. Good work.✅✅✅✅👍👍👍👍 From France 🇨🇵

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: Please read all of my description below. A large round center grip shield made of wicker and faced with several layers of rawhide or oxhide or goatskin is good against war-clubs, swords and spears. Also the large round center grip shield made of wicker and faced with several layers of rawhide or oxhide or goatskin is cheaper than the Aspis-shield. So why would the ancient Greeks choose a Aspis-shield if they could if went on the cheap way and buy a large round center grip shield with wicker and rawhide facing? It just does not make any sense. Even though war-clubs is not a standard weapon, it can still be used as a weapon.

[@FultonEagle1948]

Yes Sir.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: You still need some training in how to use a olive wooden club because if you do not have training with it, you might accidentally hurt yourself. Having training with your weapon prevents you from hurting yourself with your own weapon. So the ancient Spartans and ancient Greeks must have trained with a olive wooden club if they were going to use it. The ancient Greeks had to train with their olive wooden war club, the reason a Ancient Greek trained with his olive wooden war club because it to prevent himself from being hurt from his own olive wooden war club weapon. It’s just to prevent himself from being hurt from his own weapon. Remember if you are not careful with a olive wooden war club or any weapon, there is a good chance that you might hurt yourself.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: Now I am not a expert: so it might not be historically accurate. So be aware. Please read all of my description below. Some states maintained a small elite professional unit, known as the epilektoi or logades (means "the chosen") since they were picked from the regular citizen infantry. These existed at times in Athens, Sparta, Argos, Thebes, and Syracuse, among other places. Training when it’s peacetime and not on military campaigns after the age of 30 years old: epilektoi: The epilektoi were paid through tax money in which the epilektoi did not have to pay tax money in which is similar to a winner of the ancient Olympic Games. So epilektoi trained everyday. - Weaponry-Kata of a hoplite or a archer, a javelineer or a slinger or a hippeus-cavalry or any style in which he is accustom to. They were told to do a curtain form of kata with their weapons that is suitable to that style that he or she possess, and will protect him or her and will attack the enemy. It was basic movements with weapons depending what type of military unit you were. Practiced two times a week - Athletics, practiced: practiced two times a week. - Dancing, 3 times a week - Hunting with a spear or any other weapon: practiced seasonally. - Man vs beast armed duels: practiced seasonally. - Taking care of your weaponry equipment. Practiced once in a while. - Hoplomachia, hoplite Weapons competition with shield and spear in ancient Greece. Once a year. Military styles: Armored-Hoplite: A armed man with full hoplite equipment panoply. Armored-hoplites fought in a phalanx formation or in single combat depending on situation. It’s weak against hard hitting weapons like olive wooden war clubs and axes. Weaknesses is hard hitting weapons. Used by the highest wealthy of citizens. Iphicrates-light infantryman: A armed-warrior wearing a pilos-helmet, has a large-round center grip wicker shield that is faced with goatskin or oxhide, he is armed with a Dory-spear. It’s good against hoplites, and many other unites. But weak against cavalry-war horses and war-chariots. Used by low middle class citizens. Naked-hoplite: a hoplite that has a Corinthian helmet with Aspis-shield and with a Dory-spear. They fought in single combat. It’s weak against hard hitting weapons like olive wooden war clubs and axes. Weaknesses is hard hitting weapons, archery, javelins, war-chariots, and slings. Used by the middle class people. Upper Middle class citizens. euzonoi: A armed-warrior that is armed with a Dory-spear only. The euzonoi wears a linothorax with a Corinthian helmet. war club-wielding man: a man armed with a wooden war club. Good against armored-hoplites and naked hoplites. Psiloi: A naked or clothed warrior wielding javelins or a sling or a bow. Aspis-shield wielding Toxotai archers: A soldier armed with small-Aspis shield and a bow. Hippeus-cavalry archers: good against archery, javelins, slinging, swordsman, spearman, naked hoplites, armored-hoplites and war club-wielding man. Used by the higher class citizens. Hippeus-cavalry spearmen. Good against other hippeus-cavalry spearman. Used by some high class citizens. War-chariots: Used by the highest class of citizens.

[@gamalcastile]

Yeah, that doesn't seem to be extremely accurate. Where did you get this information? It almost seems like it is from a video game or something. It's real information interlaced with pure conjecture and several things I'm not personally familiar with.

[@taylorfusher2997]

Well, I am just guessing. So it might not be accurate. But write something down for me that will be accurate with how Ancient Greek warfare system will be like. If you do not mind.

[@gamalcastile]

@taylorfusher2997 these explanations are all available in books and I discuss several things in my lectures.

[@schnitzel2121]

great beard!

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Camille Castle: What did the ancient Spartans do to stay physically fit after the age of 30 years old? How did the ancient Spartans stay physically fit after the age of 30 years, and after completing the Agoge? What did a ancient Spartan male do at his house after the age of 30 years old when it’s peacetime and he not on military campaign? Also if a person practiced everyday on something, he or she will be better at

[@gamalcastile]

The Spartans still had military and physical training. The agoge lasted until 18, but there still would've been military drills and athletics they would've participated in. Exactly what that consisted of is probably anyone's guess, as I don't know if any detailed accounts exist of the specifics. As to what they did at home? I'd imagine what any husband and father would do. They still had the syssitia to attend, but home life would've been home life: kids and family. And yes, obviously the more you practice something the better you should get.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Camille Castle: Did the Spartan council of elders choose the paidonomos, boy herders? Did the paidonomos stay in for life as a paidonomos? Also how many paidonomos were there in ancient Sparta?

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Camille Castle: Did the Spartan council of elders choose the paidonomos, boy herders? Did the paidonomos stay in for life as a paidonomos? Also how many paidonomos were there in ancient Sparta?

[@gamalcastile]

You ask a lot of good questions that I simply don't know if there is an answer to. We only know what we know from inscriptions, literature, art and artifacts. Many things about day-to-day life just aren't available. There may be an answer out there somewhere, but I have never seen it in what I've read.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Camal Castle: Does Xifaskia mean Swordsmanship training in Ancient Greek? Did the ancient Spartans train in Xifaskia after the age of 30 years old at peacetime when not on military campaign?

[@gamalcastile]

I don't know how old of a term Xifaskia is or how far back it dates. I have never come across this term before, other than referring to fencing/swordsmanship. The sword was mostly considered a back-up weapon and was not thought of with the same reverence as in later European civilization or Japan. There were instructors in swordsmanship, hoplomachoi, but probably mostly for the wealthy or adventurous. I have not seen much of what individual Spartans do after the age of 30.

[@durthael1470]

society that separates warriors from scholars is doomed to think like a coward and fight like a fool.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: You still need some training in how to use a olive wooden club because if you do not have training with it, you might accidentally hurt yourself. Having training with your weapon prevents you from hurting yourself with your own weapon. So the ancient Spartans and ancient Greeks must have trained with a olive wooden club if they were going to use it. The ancient Greeks had to train with their olive wooden war club, the reason a Ancient Greek trained with his olive wooden war club because it to prevent himself from being hurt from his own olive wooden war club weapon. It’s just to prevent himself from being hurt from his own weapon. Remember if you are not careful with a olive wooden war club or any weapon, there is a good chance that you might hurt yourself. Is this true?

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: There was a Pankratiast named Dioxippus, who defeated a armed hoplite. Dioxippus used a olive wooden war club. Please read all of my description below. Dioxippus, by then a pankratiast, attended a banquet hosted by Alexander the Great, who liked and respected the athlete. According to Curtius Rufus, Alexander's men mocked the guest, probably out of jealousy, and accused him of being a bit of a glutton. During the banquet, a distinguished Macedonian soldier named Coragus became drunk and belligerent, insulted Dioxippus, and challenged him to a match. Dioxippus enthusiastically and contemptuously agreed to the match. Alexander attempted to dissuade the two from fighting, but could not, due to the enthusiasm of the rest of the camp. The Macedonians supported Coragus and the rest of the Greeks supported Dioxippus.[2] Alexander scheduled a day for the bout. The fight is well illustrated by Curtius Rufus. Dioxippus reportedly came out well oiled and nude, carrying a purple cloak in his left hand and a heavy club in his right. Coragus, however, wore full armor, carried a bronze shield and long pike called a sarisa in his left hand, a javelin in his right hand, and wearing a side sword. During the match, the Macedonian threw his javelin, which Dioxippus dodged. Then, before Coragus could transfer his pike to his right hand, Dioxippus attacked, shattering the weapon with his club. The Macedonian attempted to draw his sword, but Dioxippus wrestled him, getting double underhooks or as Rufus described as a "bear hug", or a bodylock, swept him to the ground, disarmed him, and immobilized him. He then stepped on Coragus' throat and could have killed him, but Alexander stopped the fight at this point.[2

[@gamalcastile]

Is that from Arrian or Plutarch? Foolish to attempt to fight an individual using large group tactics. It would be extraordinarily easy to bypass the sarissa of a single individual or to dodge a javelin from someone you're watching. The danger point of a sarissa is far in front of you, a simple side step and you control the shaft and could break it. Having the smaller Macedonian shield strapped to his left arm would also be a hindrance once the distance was closed and you were now in a grappling situation. A club is just as dangerous as a short sword.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: You still need some training in how to use a olive wooden club because if you do not have training with it, you might accidentally hurt yourself. Having training with your weapon prevents you from hurting yourself with your own weapon. So the ancient Spartans and ancient Greeks must have trained with a olive wooden club if they were going to use it. The ancient Greeks had to train with their olive wooden war club, the reason a Ancient Greek trained with his olive wooden war club because it to prevent himself from being hurt from his own olive wooden war club weapon. It’s just to prevent himself from being hurt from his own weapon. Remember if you are not careful with a olive wooden war club or any weapon, there is a good chance that you might hurt yourself. Is this true?

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Camille Castle: Did the ancient Greeks play field hockey? The reason why I ask this is because they have a Ancient Greek wall relief that depicts two individuals with other individuals with curved sticks playing with a ball in which it’s look like field hockey?

[@gamalcastile]

I have no idea.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Camille Castle: Did the ancient Spartans also learn martial-dances that were unarmed? Did the ancient Spartans know wrestling dances in the form of a dance? Did ancient Spartans know martial dances that imitates Pankration techniques?

[@gamalcastile]

We know they practiced a martial dance called the Pyrrhic dance. This even had an event in the games, I believe. It was done with shield and spear. There may have been drills also for pankration, but that is just a logical assumption on my part due to my experience in martial arts.

[@taylorfusher2997]

What did the Spartan hoplite do to protect his eyes from spear stabs or sword stabs in a phalanx battle? What did the Spartan hoplite do to protect his feet from spear throwing or projectiles in a phalanx formation battle? What did the Spartan hoplites do to protect his feet from spear strikes in a phalanx formation battle?

[@gamalcastile]

@taylorfusher2997 they used various kranoi to protect their heads and faces. The Corinthian helmet offered the greatest protection. However, there was nothing specific to cover the eyes. Later we see gladiators use a see-through face covering , but that is >400 years later. To protect their feet there is some evidence of armored footwear from the 6th century, but only a few have been found, so they were probably never overly popular. In the archaic period we also see some upper arm and thigh armor, but again these fell out of use by the 5th century.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamble Castle: Please read all of my description below. The Ancient Greek Aspis-shield is not good against hard-hitting weapons like the Kanabo weapon or a wooden olive wooden club. So why would the ancient Greeks make such a useless shield like the Aspis-shield that cannot handle hard-hitting weapons? Thegnthrand tested it, and a large center grip round shield are good against hard hitting weapons in which your arm will not get broken by the hit from a kanabo club or a olive wooden club on the large center grip shield. So why did they use Aspis-shields instead of large round center grip shields in Ancient Greece? Also with a large round center grip shield, you can switch your shield around if need because it’s center grip.

[@gamalcastile]

Standard phalanx warfare was against bladed weapons, not clubs. Most other armies used bladed weapons like swords and spears, not clubs. A club was not standard. The aspis with the forearm grip was extremely durable. This mode of warfare lasted several hundred years and was the most successful form of warfare until the Roman maniple. For any of us to second guess the utility of such a device which the Greeks used for over 200 years merely shows a great misunderstanding of what their experiences were.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: Please read all of my description below. A large round center grip shield made of wicker and faced with several layers of rawhide or oxhide or goatskin is good against war-clubs, swords and spears. Also the large round center grip shield made of wicker and faced with several layers of rawhide or oxhide or goatskin is cheaper than the Aspis-shield. So why would the ancient Greeks choose a Aspis-shield if they could if went on the cheap way and buy a large round center grip shield with wicker and rawhide facing? It just does not make any sense. Even though war-clubs is not a standard weapon, it can still be used as a weapon. This is my theory but remember I am not a expert. I am just guessing. So you must answer.

[@gamalcastile]

@taylorfusher2997 because war clubs were not what they were mainly intended for and also a spear through your gut while yielding a war club isn't going to allow you to stand there and beat on the aspis long enough to do any significant damage. Their primary defense was for bronze and later iron edged weapons like swords and spears. You engage a phalanx with a war club and there's a war club and a dead guy on the field. You cannot get close enough to a wall of shields and spears that protrude several feet in front. You'd be skewered from all sides attacking with a war club. The Persians were devastated by the Greeks up close precisely for that reason. Hand axes and short spears and blunt weapons are simply no match for armored hoplites carrying aspidae that cover them from chin to knee with an 8' razor tipped dory. Bladed weapons penetrate wicker, not wood with bronze. An aspis can withstand a great deal of damage when constructed in concentric circles. The Greeks were amazing engineers....I'm pretty sure they knew what they were doing. Also, since they were citizen soldiers and not just conscripts, their personal survival was important so all of their gear was designed to maximize survival.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: You can use a large round center grip wicker shield with rawhide facing with combination with a spear in a group-formation too, not just the Aspis. Now one thing I agree with you though, is that a Aspis-shield will last longer than a wicker shield because the Aspis-shield is much more durable, you will still have a Aspis-shield for years as for a center grip wicker shield, it might last for several years but eventually you might have to get it fixed in which might cost you money or you a might take some labor to fix the wicker center grip shield.

[@gamalcastile]

@taylorfusher2997 you can use a wicker shield ...but the Greeks didn't. At least not since the Archaic period. Now during the Mycenaean period they did use wicker tower shields covered in hide. But from probably 800 BC onward they used the wooden aspis. The aspis was also made from wet woods like Willow, so it would be more able to absorb blows from edged weapons instead of brittle woods that would crack and damage.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: You still need some training in how to use a olive wooden club because if you do not have training with it, you might accidentally hurt yourself. Having training with your weapon prevents you from hurting yourself with your own weapon. So the ancient Spartans and ancient Greeks must have trained with a olive wooden club if they were going to use it. The ancient Greeks had to train with their olive wooden war club, the reason a Ancient Greek trained with his olive wooden war club because it to prevent himself from being hurt from his own olive wooden war club weapon. It’s just to prevent himself from being hurt from his own weapon. Remember if you are not careful with a olive wooden war club or any weapon, there is a good chance that you might hurt yourself. Is this true? Hoplomachia: A competition that displays of their weapon handling skills. The weapons used for hoplomachia is a olive wooden club, and a pelte-shield. Is this true?

[@tasospodcast8832]

Gamal, I got an ancient hoplite question, I'm just posting it under your latest video. So, do we know for sure when the crested version of the Pilos was used? Late 5th century BC? Later than that? Was it only an officer thing? Thanks friend, keep up the good work!

[@gamalcastile]

The pilos helmet came into wider popularity during the latter part of the 5th century during the Peloponnesian War. Certainly it was around before that, but the trend during the Persian War and from the 6th century was to be more heavily armored, as evidenced by bronze cuirasses, bell cuirasses, knimedes and thigh greaves, as well as upper arm coverings and even a few examples of armored footware. But during the latter 5th century it seems Greeks started to lose the heavier armor in favor for mobility. The closed face Corinthian helmet often sported by various hoplites was substituted for the pilos. This is especially true among the Spartans. Why? Not sure. Maybe they figured the aspis and knimedes were protection enough? As far as crested pilos helmets I can only assume that whatever the genuine purpose of the crest served (rank, intimidation, etc) was simply transferred as the popularity of the helmet became more widespread. My personal thoughts would be this....a pilos helmet seems like a poor hoplite's helmet and not fitting for a promachoi (front ranker) and so therefore also not worn by officers. Probably mostly veterans in the rear who really wouldn't see any of the danger up close so the lighter more comfortable helmet could be opted for. But, as the pilos became more popular, maybe due to desiring greater mobility, more sensory input, etc, then its usage would've crept up to the officer ranks and front tankers of the phalanx, requiring crestage (is that a word?) to denote their position. Remember that a lot of this stuff is not written down and chronicled for us by the ancients. Its all supposition. We really just know there were pilos helmets and that they became popular during the latter half of the 5th century, especially among the Spartans. The rest is just placing some logic behind it.

[@tasospodcast8832]

@@gamalcastile Makes complete sense, can't thank you enough my friend.

[@Minmir_the_Skald]

Where did you buy your Greek tunic? I have not been able to find any website that sells historical ones

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castle: Did the ancient Greeks also train into the use of a olive wooden war club? Because why is Heracles depicting wielding a olive wooden war club on Ancient Greek vases and wall reliefs? Why would the ancient Greeks depict warriors wielding weapons that they don’t actually use in actual combat?

[@gamalcastile]

I see no evidence that olive war clubs were used in Classical Greek phalanx warfare. But they are obviously representative of Heracles. Clubs are a simple bludgeoning weapon that doesn't really require much skill to wield. Light skirmishers may have wielded clubs, but most likely not any kind of uniformity in its use. Heracles was most definitely NOT a hoplite in phalanx warfare, so none of the norms of that time would be applicable to him and vice versa.

[@gronizherz3603]

As an amateur/hobby bodybuilder I have a question regarding this + your historical interest: How come you are bodybuilding to such a large and bulky size, as opposed to historically statues which were "smaller" but shredded and what not? Do you consider a large bulky physique to be more aesthetic, or aesthetic in a different way? The Last Natural (here in KZbin) has a really interesting video regarding this called "Your Body is Altering the Human Race" which I recommend, with that in the back of my head I just had this really general question. (I hope you realise this is not critique in any way - your physique is as great as your whole channel. :) Also, naturally there are very many statues, and not all of them have one single physique.)

[@FultonEagle1948]

Not speaking for Mr. Castile, this is my own opinion. His physique reminds me of this famous statue of HERAKLES. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farnese_Hercules#/media/File:Herakles_Farnese_MAN_Napoli_Inv6001_n01.jpg

[@Alexsonofalion]

Are you Dienekes? Or Olympius?

[@alextubey4717]

I look up to you

[@gamalcastile]

If I can be an example that influences you in a positive way, then I am honored.

[@taylorfusher2997]

To Gamal Castile: Well, I am just guessing. So it might not be accurate. But write something down for me that will be accurate with how Ancient Greek warfare system will be like. If you do not mind.

[@de4dluck]

Full

[@Κωντιλόπαρδος]

So is Macedonia greek or no

[@gamalcastile]

Are you referring to the modern era or the ancient era? In the ancient era, Macedonia was not considered Greek by the other Greek poleis. Macedonia had its own language and customs and a pantheon of its own gods. The Greeks considered them foreigners and brutish. The Greeks referred to the original capital of Macedonia as "Goat town." It was only later that the Macedonians developed a desire to be seen as Greek, adopting Greek language and building Greek style theaters. But Greek was a language secondary to Macedonian, therefore the main two elements at the time needed to be considered "Greek" were speaking Greek (they adopted Greek) and observing the Greek gods (they had their own gods). There are no Greek temples in Macedonia built in Greek style relating to the worship of the Greek gods. Even in ancient literature the Macedonians are referred to outside of the Greek sphere ( i.e. the Greeks AND the Macedonians). Several ancient authors point out the distinction between Greeks and Macedonians . There were 50,000 Greek mercenaries fighting with Darius and they are referred to as Greek while Alexander's army is referred to as Macedonian. So at the time they were decidedly not Greek, but their own unique people. I know there is a lot of dispute today, but the history is pretty clear.

[@Κωντιλόπαρδος]

@@gamalcastile wasn't he's teacher Aristotle thought and the Macedonian coins they discovered are with greek writings never slav they say the Slavs came to modern day North Macedonia 900 years after Alexander the greats death and Alexander is a greek name meaning defender or something like that

[@ariskritikos160]

@@gamalcastile You are a hell off in that....you say the macedonians had a different language and different gods. What were those ? can you tell us what the macedonian language was and who were their gods ? In case you dont know it, greek language back then had few different dialects...macedonian was one of them and the macedonians at some point adopted the athenian dialect because it had the higher status. Macedonians were indeed considered like ''primitive'' from the other greeks because they were actually. But they even took part in the Olympic games. The spartans called themselves ''Lakedaimonioi'' that doesnt make them non greeks. Keep your good work in the hoplite warfare but let other historical issues for others.

[@gasmask7064]

Do it in the armor and I’ll pass out.