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EthicallyChallenged β€” Comms Station

Published: 2015-01-05 09:20:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 19644; Favourites: 334; Downloads: 261
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Description Visible in the left portion of the illustration is a Greek version of an Ancient communications
station. The problem of relaying information over long distances otherwise difficult to traverse,
particularily in time sensitive circumstances, was solved by combining writing and spring technology.
Messages were written on round rocks, which were then catapulted using a sling-type device called a
Broadcast Station (not to be confused with a catapult - a crude Ancient version of artillery).

The crew consisted of a sender, who's job was to send messages, a spotter, tasked with spotting and
recovering the messages sent by other stations and scribe - the writer/reader of messages. By using
multiple stations, spaced accordingly and forming lines, it was possible to send messages over long
distances very efficiently.

The system was not perfect, which resulted in many tragic (sometimes ironically comical) stories.
Chronicles describe a case of one Akakios, a Macedonian merchant, who was informed of his exoneration
in a recent court decision, however the stone carrying the happy message struck him in the head,
tragically killing him. Another such tale describes a talented dancer, known by the name Tychon,
whose leg was crushed by a message stone. Looking down at his shattered limb, Tychon realised in
horror that the message informed him that his recent application for a coveted role in a dancing show
was successful.
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Comments: 15

Arklyte84826 [2022-12-04 17:11:07 +0000 UTC]

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

EnaiSiaion [2015-09-24 17:26:13 +0000 UTC]

THAT description.

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Slaytaninc [2015-06-09 12:40:55 +0000 UTC]

The scene could be anything, but I think this is the battle atΒ the Jaxartes river against the Scythians. Do I get a cookie?

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Foresternew [2015-01-17 19:54:12 +0000 UTC]

Ah - more communications -Β  the usual balls in the air, I see.....

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Nekomouse [2015-01-12 21:17:34 +0000 UTC]

This is amazing! I have to admit that my first thought was how many people got smacked in the head with this thing, but I'd never heard of it before. So win for learning something new.

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EthicallyChallenged In reply to Nekomouse [2015-01-12 21:55:29 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Unfortunately, comms station use in the Ancient world is not yet common knowledge (I'm working on that). Fortunately, you learned about it here, on the internet, so you can be 100% sure the information is factual and proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.

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Nekomouse In reply to EthicallyChallenged [2015-01-13 08:39:04 +0000 UTC]

Well done, sir.

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Historyman14 [2015-01-12 13:06:15 +0000 UTC]

Epic.Β 

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NuminiousNihil [2015-01-11 20:21:34 +0000 UTC]

You sir, are king troll

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BlokeyCai [2015-01-09 07:20:56 +0000 UTC]

Just finish this AW issue, great descriptionΒ ofΒ battle of jaxartes

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Sammavanklaarbergen [2015-01-05 13:57:40 +0000 UTC]

Hahaha I laughed out loud at the story of akakios! So good!
I never knew this so +1 for the funnies, +1 for the informationals and +1 for the drawing!

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Orestix [2015-01-05 12:38:18 +0000 UTC]

Oh, it’s a communication station! Fortunately, you informed us, β€˜cause when I first saw that, I thought it was a war engine.
Sorry, my mistake.

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BurenErdene [2015-01-05 11:48:57 +0000 UTC]

Very friendly and informational. Thank you.

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Equeto [2015-01-05 11:35:52 +0000 UTC]

Awesome!!! I love both the picture and the description of these fascinating "Ancient Comunication Station" and sepecially its "tragicomic" anecdotes !

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BATTLEFAIRIES [2015-01-05 09:25:16 +0000 UTC]

Oh but I do love your descriptions...!

Compelling image - one really gets that sense of scale with the deployed troops all in the image. I can't imagine anyone could keep an overview once battle was good and well in progress. Logistics and communications must have been crazy. No wonder they had to come up with a Broadcast Station.

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