Karunanithy - The Macedonian War Machine 359-281 BC

My wife Lena is chiefly to thank for making this book possible. Without her monumental efforts in formulating an effective editing schedule, my work would have simply remained a dog-eared manuscript gathering dust, hopes and dreams. We worked on the task as a teamI undertook the research while she performed major surgery on my text. I am indebted to her for cutting away the jumble of words, transforming what I wrote into something altogether orderly and readable.

Apart from Lena, I would like to express my appreciation for the late Professor Emeritus N.G.L. Hammond of the University of Cambridge. Professor Hammond was one of the foremost authorities on ancient Macedonia in the English language and his many admirable works have over the years kindled in me a passion for all things ancient and Macedonian. We maintained a written correspondence from August 1997 and he patiently reviewed some of my early drafts and was at hand to encourage me in my slow and laborious progress. His last letter to me was dated 8 March 2001 with an invitation to meet him at his home. Unfortunately, this was not to be as he died several weeks later at the age of 93 after over half a century of phenomenal academic output. I sent my condolences to his family and received a touching response from his wife Margaret. Before his passing, the Professor had most generously provided a short Foreword banged out on a fossilised typewriter and I had requested that this might accompany my book.

Over the years scores of people and institutions have been instrumental in aiding me with the painstaking research for this project and with the use of their facilities.

During my forays into Greece I made contact with individuals who have greatly improved the final outcome. A debt of gratitude must be paid to Georgina Giati for her immense kindness and thoughtful cooperation, Konstantinos Noulas for his inexhaustible generosity and hospitality, Anthi Efstathiou for bringing some rare evidence to my attention and Jordanis Pimenidis for his inspiring enthusiasm.

Other contacts who have assisted and inspired me include Gian Svennevig, George Casstrisios, Evelyn Miller, Philip Greenough, Anthony Dove, Steven Neate, Christopher Webber and many other members of the Society of Ancients. To this roll call must be added Anna Chatzinikolaou, Minor Markle, Roger Scott, Duncan Head, Dean Lush, Ruben Post and Luke Ueda-Sarson, to whom I am grateful for useful points, valued insights and a generous supply of articles. In addition, I would like to recognise Anastasia Maravela and the staff of the Joint Library of the Hellenic and Roman Societies including the Warburg Institute Library (both of the School of Advanced Study, London).

Heartfelt thanks must go to my parents for always being at hand whenever I needed their support along the long twisting road of study, and to my sister Clare, who transported me around Melbourne in my obsessive hunt for research materials. My editor, Philip Sidnell, should also be singled out for praise, granting me the timely opportunity to have my work published through Pen & Sword Books after years of vacillation. Finally, I must acknowledge Dr Peter Guest of Cardiff University. When we were schoolboys he once teased me about an imaginary book called The Macedonian War Machinethe subtle seedling for this project.

David Karunanithy
St Albans, June 2012