Hoplites fighting in Phalanx formation

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

My view is that the othismos,that means just pushing and nothing more was the case in any vast number batlle.Pressure is described also in roman battles at the point that the dead remained in their place as there was no space to fall!The Greeks seem to have just used this fact and transformed their phalanx in order for the othismos to become an advantage.It's interesting that Xenophon sais befor the othosmos took place the "doratismos"=fighting with the spear.Wich means that the pushing did not take place exactly after the clash but slowly as physically the rear rankers pushed the men in front of them.You're probably right that front rankers could not stay for a long time under such pressure.However,there was no need to push for a long time.Sooner or later one of the phalanxes broke most of the times.And in the rare situation that did not brake,we know what huppened in the battle of Koroneia where Xenophon was present.Both phalanxes broke and everything became a mess with much more dead from both sides than usual.Xenophon sais it was the most terrible battle of his time.
Also,in other great battles we see that not all parts of the formation came in contact,some times the enemy broke fefor that clash!
And one more point against loose formation,can anybody tell me what was the need for the Spartans to march in the same step withe the sound of the aulos,if they did not have locked shields?
Khairete
Giannis

PS.Much time befor Homer there have been phalanxes in Sumeria and even pikemen in Minoans.Homer does not speak of othismos but for ranks "one after the other" wich may mean he had primitive phalanxes in his mind or was speaking about the earlier Minoan pike phalanxes that were probably in use in some places.