“Die in harness”
(death in harness) means to die with armor on; to die while actively engaged in
work or duty.
This phrase is often used
to refer to Government or Non government servants who die while in active
service.
The phrase has roots
in Roman culture and tradition.
In ancient Roman
culture, all soldiers were dedicated as bridegrooms to the goddesses of war.
They were not permitted to marry or have a family. They were 24x7 soldiers.
Once they joined the military service, they discarded all ties with their
family. All of them were unmarried young men.
But as time went on
certain freedom was allowed to them. Those who liked to marry were permitted to
marry. Those who did not wish to marry were allowed to remain so. Married
soldiers were permitted to spend their vacations when there is no prospect of a
war, with their family. Still once they rejoin the army after the vacation,
they should forget all about their family in order to concentrate on serving
their country and the goddess of war. There were some humanitarian problems
with this concession. Who would look after the family after he left them to
rejoin the army? So the State decided to take care of the family of soldiers
during their absence. Thus the soldier in the military camp served in peace and
the family of the soldier lived in comfort.
Even today, elements
of this concept are found in religious institutions and State military
services.
Why the
ancient Greeks thought that it was better for their soldiers not to have a wife
and children. All myths of war goddess and her bridegrooms were spread in order
to create owe and fear among the people. The real purpose was that solders were
destined to die in a war. The end of a soldier was death during a war and the end
of a common man was death in his hut. Death of a soldier in war was glorified
as heroic and martyrdom. Death in the war field was glorious as it was death
for the success of the goddess and her nation. There were other political
reasons also behind the glorifying of death in war.
Soldiers
were destined to die in the war. There were no thought of turning back to an
enemy. It is death or victory. Victory is another chance to die gloriously in
the next war.
Victory is
always like that.
In a
sense, all talks about glorifying and romanticizing war and death were traps to
adventurous youths of that day. It was taking patriotism beyond its reasonable area.
Myths are
constructed stories with a purpose. Myths have an amazing power to transform
into traditions and practices while remaining as a myth. Myths further
construct values and meanings.
The myth connected
with ‘death in harness’ of soldiers, war goddess and glorification of death in
war flowed down to the commons as accepted norms of life. Thus war was
glorified and death during war became heroic.
Roman
soldiers were famous for their courage and heroism. They were ill famous for
their cruelties. The trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a fine example
for their cruelties.
The armor
worn by them was an expression of their motto, “fight to death.” They had a
head covering; chest and limbs were also covered by metal armors. But none of
them had any protective covering for their back. They need no protection for
their back, because none turns back to their enemies. No Roman soldier turns
back in war; none ran away from the war field. Even at times they expected a
failure in the war, they stood fighting to death. Suicide was a better option
than yielding to the enemy.
Their death
during a war, a death in harness, a death by fighting against the enemy was
glorified, heroic and martyrdom.
Death by
fighting is always heroic. Turning away is un-heroic. Winning the war is less
than fighting to death. So fight unto death. Nothing should defeat us. Never
turn back.
Success is
fighting unto death. Victory is death in harness. Honor is death in war.
Professor
Jacob Abraham
For Christian study materials: www.thenaphtalitribe.com
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