author commentary
This story tells a tale of how a divided ant kingdom fell to a greater united one. In our world this situation has happened many times, especially during ancient times. It can also relate to today and modern times.
The ancient Gaulish tribes were never united and always fought against each other. For this reason the Roman Empire had conquered Gaul (without much hesitation). The ancient Greeks were divided as well. In particular the two cities of Athens and Sparta. Many attempts to unite these Greek cities had failed. For the few times they had united, they managed to defeat invaders like Persia and Macedon. But when the Romans came, each state decided that they weren’t going to unite again and perished.
In the second century AD king Pyrrhus of Epirus was the general who defended Greece from Rome. He tried out a new weapon never used by the Greeks before: Elephants. This weapon was sure to work as they had been brought from Syria, and trained by Syrians, who were famous for using elephants in wars. Unfortunately the elephants weren’t use to the Greeks and in battle, the elephants trampled over its own soldiers. This contributed greatly to the loss of the Greeks to the Romans.
Today the war against terrorism has broken friendships between the US and the Middle East. If they were to stop fighting, and work together, they could discover solutions to huge global problems. Like quickly spreading diseases and global warming. In this case, the US and Middle East can be the Greek cities, and Global problems can be the Romans.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
UNITED WE STAND…. DIVIDED WE FALL
In the dense forest there was a lake where many ant colonies thrived, in particular on the rocks and mud. The ant colonies constantly battled against each other, for more land or for land once owned by them. Once a grand empire had dominated most of the moss grounds, the rock islands, the Balkant regions and the far of lands to the east. This empire fell when the leaders died, now it is divided amongst cunning generals who wish for the glory the leaders once had. Yet glory seems far from reach at this time. The leaders of the small remnants have gathered in a grand audience chamber to discuss the future of the people.
“Brothers, relatives, friends. We have gathered here to talk about diplomacy, to talk about becoming one and about peace. Since the death of our queen Helen, our empire has been divided, we’ve returned to our old ways of fighting each other. Are we to overcome our differences ever?” Asked senator Antipatro
The senator glanced at the diplomats
“The Romants are a growing threat to the west. They are threatening to destroy what’s left of Helens Empire.” He pointed at the diplomats and said “I ask you, will we unite as brothers to defeat the Romants?”
A murmur spread amongst the diplomats.
“You’re a fool to think WE; the Spartants will ever unite with those Thessants! Stated a Spartant diplomat.
“Yeah, we Cretants refuse to join with those barbarous Pontants” argued another
“Order! Brothers, let me inform you that the Romants have a queen! Surely you know what happens to an ant kingdom with no queen?” Antipatro yelled. “Tomorrow the Romants will attack the Epirants at Apontant city. Those who wish the Epirants to gain victory join with king Pyrrus’s army. Those who don’t can stay back and watch our ant kingdom obliterate.
The next day king Pyrrus organized the defenses of his city. For hours he was waiting for allies to turn up. Time was running out. Would his brothers come to his aid? It seemed unlikely as the Romants had set up a camp just of the edge of the lake near Apontant city.
An hour past and to Pyrrus’s delight a large ally army had approached his fort. The army was a combination of soldier-ants, phalanx-formation warrior ants and tame lizards. Its leader, King Memnon approached Pyrrus.
“Greetings king Pyrrus, I king Memnon of Akropantia have come to help in this battle against the Romants.”
“Many thanks Memnon. Do you know if the others will come?”
“No, unfortunately, the Cretants are fighting with the Rhodants, Cantith with Boetiant, Thessants with Pontant and so on. You see, even if we do win, Pyrrus, the rest of the states would be even more convinced that we need no unity.”
“So either way, we both lose.” Stated Pyrrus
The Romants began to advance towards the city, many legions to fight the small forces of king Pyrrus and Memnon. The day looked pretty grim for the divided empire of Helen. A trumpet sounded and the battle started. Both sides clashed with enormous force. Helant versus Romant. The soldier ants fought first against the Romants and the phalanx warriors from the sides. It seemed that the forces of the two kings had out-flanked the Romants but they sent reinforcements just in time to further the attack. Captain Idas of the Helant army, ordered that the lizards be released. These lizards began to trample and devour the Romant legionaries. They began to run amok, after seeing the great size of the Romant army, killing even its own soldiers. The Romants ordered their slingers to hurl rocks at the lizards. Eventually all the lizards were killed. More Romant reinforcements arrived and crushed the Helant army. King Pyrrus died amongst his slain warriors. Memnon signaled a retreat to the remaining of his army. The Romants seized the city and claimed it theirs. They had gained victory.
News of the defeat spread to the rest of the Helant states. It wasn’t a good idea to have remained divided and that caused the fall of the Helant Empire.
In the dense forest there was a lake where many ant colonies thrived, in particular on the rocks and mud. The ant colonies constantly battled against each other, for more land or for land once owned by them. Once a grand empire had dominated most of the moss grounds, the rock islands, the Balkant regions and the far of lands to the east. This empire fell when the leaders died, now it is divided amongst cunning generals who wish for the glory the leaders once had. Yet glory seems far from reach at this time. The leaders of the small remnants have gathered in a grand audience chamber to discuss the future of the people.
“Brothers, relatives, friends. We have gathered here to talk about diplomacy, to talk about becoming one and about peace. Since the death of our queen Helen, our empire has been divided, we’ve returned to our old ways of fighting each other. Are we to overcome our differences ever?” Asked senator Antipatro
The senator glanced at the diplomats
“The Romants are a growing threat to the west. They are threatening to destroy what’s left of Helens Empire.” He pointed at the diplomats and said “I ask you, will we unite as brothers to defeat the Romants?”
A murmur spread amongst the diplomats.
“You’re a fool to think WE; the Spartants will ever unite with those Thessants! Stated a Spartant diplomat.
“Yeah, we Cretants refuse to join with those barbarous Pontants” argued another
“Order! Brothers, let me inform you that the Romants have a queen! Surely you know what happens to an ant kingdom with no queen?” Antipatro yelled. “Tomorrow the Romants will attack the Epirants at Apontant city. Those who wish the Epirants to gain victory join with king Pyrrus’s army. Those who don’t can stay back and watch our ant kingdom obliterate.
The next day king Pyrrus organized the defenses of his city. For hours he was waiting for allies to turn up. Time was running out. Would his brothers come to his aid? It seemed unlikely as the Romants had set up a camp just of the edge of the lake near Apontant city.
An hour past and to Pyrrus’s delight a large ally army had approached his fort. The army was a combination of soldier-ants, phalanx-formation warrior ants and tame lizards. Its leader, King Memnon approached Pyrrus.
“Greetings king Pyrrus, I king Memnon of Akropantia have come to help in this battle against the Romants.”
“Many thanks Memnon. Do you know if the others will come?”
“No, unfortunately, the Cretants are fighting with the Rhodants, Cantith with Boetiant, Thessants with Pontant and so on. You see, even if we do win, Pyrrus, the rest of the states would be even more convinced that we need no unity.”
“So either way, we both lose.” Stated Pyrrus
The Romants began to advance towards the city, many legions to fight the small forces of king Pyrrus and Memnon. The day looked pretty grim for the divided empire of Helen. A trumpet sounded and the battle started. Both sides clashed with enormous force. Helant versus Romant. The soldier ants fought first against the Romants and the phalanx warriors from the sides. It seemed that the forces of the two kings had out-flanked the Romants but they sent reinforcements just in time to further the attack. Captain Idas of the Helant army, ordered that the lizards be released. These lizards began to trample and devour the Romant legionaries. They began to run amok, after seeing the great size of the Romant army, killing even its own soldiers. The Romants ordered their slingers to hurl rocks at the lizards. Eventually all the lizards were killed. More Romant reinforcements arrived and crushed the Helant army. King Pyrrus died amongst his slain warriors. Memnon signaled a retreat to the remaining of his army. The Romants seized the city and claimed it theirs. They had gained victory.
News of the defeat spread to the rest of the Helant states. It wasn’t a good idea to have remained divided and that caused the fall of the Helant Empire.
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