Database: Food supply and military logistics

Soldiers not only provided their own equipment, they were also expected to bring their own food. We know that Athenian' standard was a three-day ration. Rations usually consisted of dry foods such as salted fish or cereal flours that could be mixed with water to make a porridge. Food could also be pillaged in enemy territory. The short duration of conflicts in the Greek world often occurred because of the poor logistics of supplying and maintaining armies. Towards the end of the Classical period, armies could be resupplied by ships, and larger equipment could be transported using wagons and mules, which came under the responsibility of men too old to fight.