03-12-2009, 08:13 PM
Yes, that is one of the three manuals I was referring to ( Aelian, Asclepiodotus and Arrian).....each author's work is very similar and all appear to be based on a single 'lost' original Hellenistic work. As is known from more modern drill manuals, (e.g. Prussian) a single line of 'file closers' is sufficient to co-erce/prevent runaways, and as the manuals state, three is more than sufficient to 'lean/push', along probably with ranks 2-5, as and when necessary. This 'othismos' probably occurred as both sides tired and the sarissae were, for the most part, embedded in the enemy shields.......
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
