Acoustic Simulation of Julius Caesar’s Battlefield Speeches
Abstract
:1. Introduction
Under such circumstances it must have been impossible for a general, even if he had had the voice of a Stentor, to deliver a speech that could be heard by all the soldiers simultaneously.[6]
2. Background
2.1. Benjamin Franklin’s Experiment
⋯[Whitefield] might well be heard by more than Thirty Thousand. This reconciled me to the newspaper accounts of his having preached to twenty five thousand people in the fields and to the ancient histories of generals haranguing whole armies of which I had sometimes doubted.[18]
2.2. Caesar the Orator
Do you know any man who can speak better than Caesar, even if he has concentrated on the art of oratory to the exclusion of all else?[33]
3. Simulation Method and Results
3.1. Dyrrachium
3.1.1. Environmental Factors
Caesar was now forced to abandon his previous plans and believed that he needed to change his entire strategy for this war. Accordingly, he simultaneously withdrew his troops from all their fortified positions, thus ending the siege. He gathered his entire army in one place and addressed the troops in assembly, urging them not to be discouraged by what had happened: they should neither be frightened by their present experience nor consider this single setback–which, at any rate, was relatively minor–as equivalent to their many successful battles.[13]
3.1.2. Simulation
3.2. Pharsalus
3.2.1. Environmental Factors
After⋯the signal for departure had already been given and the tents struck, it was noticed that a little earlier Pompey’s battle line, exceeding what it had been used to doing each day, had moved forward farther from their rampart, so that it appeared possible to fight on ground that would not be unfavorable. Then Caesar, who was with his men as they were about to march out of the gate in formation, said to them, “We need to put off our march for now and turn our thoughts to battle, which is what we have been demanding all this time. Let’s take courage and be prepared to fight. It will not be easy to find another chance later.” Then he immediately led out his troops, unencumbered and ready to fight.[13]
3.2.2. Simulation
4. Discussion
However, once [Caesar] had a look at the enemy formation described above, he feared a flanking attack by the mass of enemy cavalry circling around his right wing; he therefore rapidly drew individual cohorts out of the third line of his formation, placed them as a fourth line to oppose Pompey’s cavalry, and explained to them what he wanted them to do, making it clear that this day’s victory would depend on the bravery of these cohorts. At the same time he commanded the third line not to move forward and engage with the enemy without explicit orders from himself: when he wanted this to happen, he would give the signal with a flag.[13]
5. Conclusions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
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Surface | 125 | 250 | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 4000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience area (dense) | 0.24 | 0.47 | 0.94 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
Vocal SPL (dB) | Background Noise Level (dB) | MIA (m2) | Density (Persons/m2) | Crowd Size |
---|---|---|---|---|
74 | 45 | 2104 | 2.7 | 5,681 |
80 | 45 | 8096 | 2.7 | 21,859 |
Surface | 125 | 250 | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 4000 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience area (dense) | 0.20 | 0.35 | 0.70 | 0.99 | 0.99 | 0.99 |
Vocal SPL (dB) | Background Noise Level (dB) | MIA (m2) | Density (Persons/m2) | Crowd Size |
---|---|---|---|---|
80 | 55 | 596 | 1.17 | 697 |
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Boren, B. Acoustic Simulation of Julius Caesar’s Battlefield Speeches. Acoustics 2019, 1, 3-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1010002
Boren B. Acoustic Simulation of Julius Caesar’s Battlefield Speeches. Acoustics. 2019; 1(1):3-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1010002
Chicago/Turabian StyleBoren, Braxton. 2019. "Acoustic Simulation of Julius Caesar’s Battlefield Speeches" Acoustics 1, no. 1: 3-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1010002
APA StyleBoren, B. (2019). Acoustic Simulation of Julius Caesar’s Battlefield Speeches. Acoustics, 1(1), 3-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/acoustics1010002