"Shadows in the Desert" Ancient Persia at War

[Eques]

Bit disappointed with this Osprey book. Nice pictures and some useful information but I was a bit perplexed, considering the title, to see this introduction to the chapter on the Graeco Persian Wars "A full discussion of the units and equipment of the Achaemenid Army at this time is beyond the scope of this book."

This after about seven pages of discussion of such warlike subjects as Persian astronomy, law, architecture, coinage and taxation!

Also it rather worryingly portrays Darius III as being personally present at the Battle of the Granicus.