Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Battle hymn
Battle hymn. During and previous to many of the battles of the ancients, they had hymns and war songs composed and dedicated to certain gods. At the expedition of Cyrus against the Babylonians, before he came within reach of the enemy, he gave the rallying word, which was "Jupiter, protector and conqueror," and then caused the war hymn to be sounded, to which the soldiers answered with a loud voice. This hymn was dedicated to Castor and Pollux, and whenever it was sung, it seemed to inspire the soldiers with both military and religious ardor. So also at the battle with the Persian army ; history says, "On the first signal of Cyrus, his troops faced about on every side, keeping a pro-found silence in expectation of the event. The prince now thought it time to sing the song of battle. The whole army answered it with loud shouts and invocations to the god of war." At the battle of Cunaxa, when the armies were not far distant from each other, "the Greeks began to sing the hymn of battle ; and after the death of young Cyrus, on seeing the victors approach, they sang a hymn." During the wars sustained by the ancients in Africa, Agathoies, desirous of putting his soldiers under the necessity of conquering, by leaving no other refuge than victory, resolved to burn every ship in his fleet. Therefore, "taking a flambeau in his hand, and causing the battle song to be sounded, he hastily led the way on board his own ship, and set fire to it. All the other officers did the like, and were cheerfully followed by the soldiers. The mu-sic sounded from every quarter, and the whole army resounded with joyful shouts and acclamations." Of the general treatment of captives by the Babylonians, we know but little. They were a musical people, and had taste enough to appreciate their poetical and musical talents ; and they were summoned occasionally to amuse the banquets of their masters, though it was much against their will that they sang the songs of Zion in a strange land. "By the rivers of Babylon, there they sat down and wept when they remembered thee, 0 Zion." No nation, perhaps, at that early period, were equal to the Babylonians either in vocal or instrumental music.