06-06-2010, 03:49 PM
As I scour over the thousand or so images of warriors wearing the Tube-and-Yoke corselet (for probably the 10th time!) I've noticed that a few hoplites are holding longer spears than what is 'normal'. I've posted a couple images to give you an example. These longer spears seem to be half again as long at the typical spear we see on vase paintings used by hoplites (maybe 10-12 feet). I don't have too much experience in Classical Greek weaponry, so I'm not sure if this is expected or has been dealt with elsewhere, but it seemed very odd to me and worth noting since I've always read that the hoplite's spear was around 7 or 8 feet long. I understand that trying to determine measurements based off vase paintings is a tricky business. These observations are based off scale. What does everyone else think?
[attachment=2:201ufps7]<!-- ia2 achilles 2b mid 5th c 2.jpg<!-- ia2 [/attachment:201ufps7]
(Above) The spear Achilles holds seems to be a little longer than normal hoplite spears, but this could easily be about 9 or 10 feet -- still quite long. It's also interesting that what appears to be a spear grip is located on the back third of the spear and not in the center or slightly off center.
[attachment=1:201ufps7]<!-- ia1 beazley, ARV2, 211.194, c.480-460bc 2.jpg<!-- ia1 [/attachment:201ufps7]
(Above) Here is the typical example of a hoplite holding a spear of the usual length.
[attachment=0:201ufps7]<!-- ia0 volute krater - painter of bologna 2.JPG<!-- ia0 [/attachment:201ufps7]
(Above) The warrior in the blue box holds a spear of the normal length, there is another person to the right holding a similar sized spear. The warrior in the green box, however, is holding a very long spear. This is important that they appear on the same vase, showing that the longer hoplite's spear is simply not an artists' rendering or an anomaly. He also wears a helmet (pushed back) and a muscle-cuirass. The top and bottom of his long spear are marked out with green arrows.
[attachment=2:201ufps7]<!-- ia2 achilles 2b mid 5th c 2.jpg<!-- ia2 [/attachment:201ufps7]
(Above) The spear Achilles holds seems to be a little longer than normal hoplite spears, but this could easily be about 9 or 10 feet -- still quite long. It's also interesting that what appears to be a spear grip is located on the back third of the spear and not in the center or slightly off center.
[attachment=1:201ufps7]<!-- ia1 beazley, ARV2, 211.194, c.480-460bc 2.jpg<!-- ia1 [/attachment:201ufps7]
(Above) Here is the typical example of a hoplite holding a spear of the usual length.
[attachment=0:201ufps7]<!-- ia0 volute krater - painter of bologna 2.JPG<!-- ia0 [/attachment:201ufps7]
(Above) The warrior in the blue box holds a spear of the normal length, there is another person to the right holding a similar sized spear. The warrior in the green box, however, is holding a very long spear. This is important that they appear on the same vase, showing that the longer hoplite's spear is simply not an artists' rendering or an anomaly. He also wears a helmet (pushed back) and a muscle-cuirass. The top and bottom of his long spear are marked out with green arrows.
Scott B.
