The Garden of Cyrus

description, far different from our own, or the checkmate original: "chec-mate" of the Persians. This game might contain some elegant and remarkable features, being an invention as ancient as Hermes, the secretary of Osiris, representing the whole world, the motion of the planets, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon. ❦ Physicians also make use of this X-shaped intersection original: "decussation" in several operations, specifically in bandages original: "ligatures" and the joining of separated parts of the body original: "union of dissolved continuities". Engineers original: "Mechanicks" use it in forceps-like tools and cutting instruments. Who can help but admire the power of this X-shaped structure, which serves opposite purposes: both loosening and strengthening, or joining and dividing? This is illustrated by Aristotle in the ancient nutcracker original: "nucifragium" and instruments for pulling, squeezing, or cutting. These consist of two arms original: "vectes" turned toward each other; because the pressure and stress are placed upon the fulcrum original: "hypomochlion" at the point of intersection, a greater force is created by the combined action of the two arms. ❦ THE Roman battle formation original: "battalia" was arranged in this same way; though this is well known, the poet Virgil left only a hint and obscure suggestion of it. For it was in this way that the companies original: "maniples" and divisions original: "cohorts" of the hastati spearmen who formed the first line, principes heavily armed soldiers in the second line, and triarii veteran soldiers in the third line were placed within their units, which was the secret to the strength of the Roman army. By this arrangement original: "ordination", they could easily merge into one another; the

hast.    ❦          ❦          ❦          ❦          ❦
pr.             ❦          ❦          ❦          ❦
tr.    ❦          ❦          ❦          ❦          ❦

This diagram shows the staggered "checkerboard" formation of the Roman army lines: the hastati (front), principes (middle), and triarii (rear).

hastati, when hard-pressed, could retreat smoothly into the gaps between the principes. These, in turn, could retreat into the gaps of the triarii. This formed a new, unified force that could rejoin the battle together, which was the secret of their success. And therefore, it was remarkably unique in the Battle of Zama original: "battel of Africa" that Scipio, fearing a rout from the enemy's elephants, did not leave the principes in their usual staggered positions. If he had, the elephants—after passing through the gaps in the front-line hastati—would have crashed directly into them. Instead, he aligned his troops in straight order, leaving the passages clear, and thus defeated the harm intended by the elephants. From this figure, two remark-