Marching with Spears and Pila

[Maximio]

I'm still a bit sceptical about this one, I agree with Magnus that the images are demonstrative of a campaign march rather than a formation in battle, but if one looks at the full version of the metope the Pila are perched precariously "off the shoulder". This would have been so unstable that either the shoulder position or the hand grip must be sculpturally inaccurate.

With regards to the problem of holding the pilum in the "crook position" I do not find it uncomfortable. Indeed the angle and position we tend to hold it in is such that it is a/ very comfortable and b/ there is less chance of it hitting the man behind as it allows for a more upright angle. To hold it over the shoulder would require more of a tilt backwards to give it support.

A few years back we did a march with a number of guests from another more casual unit. I was in the rank behind them and they used a grip not dissimilar to that which Caballo proposes. We were forever trying to avoid the swinging spears flashing in front of our noses.

I also went over all the pics I have of the march across Hadrians Wall and found this rather low resolution shot of the unit crossing the most awkward section of terrain. One can just make out that most men knackered though they were are still holding their Pila in the crook of the arm.

I would also suggest that the traditional manner of holding it gives a certain degree of "swagger" and arrogance to the marching style, so certainly something of a "parade posture".