01-26-2008, 05:30 AM
Quote:Against this, he says that the thureophoroi did use both long spears and javelins, so they may have been using a long-established practice. Also, Nepos actually says that the short spears (brevibus hastis) were replaced (not supplemented) by longer spears.
The short spears being a single hoplite Dory, none too short, in Nepos, correct? How did the Romans manage to throw one pilum and hold the other?
Quote:I have not found a reference yet for the thureophoroi spear lengths other than Duncan Head's comment (perhaps it's in Luke's article, I'll have to check). There's a similar argument about whether it was possible to use a rhomphaia with javelins.
I would question whether a 12' spear can be weilded effectively with one hand- or a romphaia for that matter
I remember an article of Anderson's where he paints thureophoroi as essentially the same as roman pila-armed troops, so he would imply shorter spears. (less than an 8' dory)
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
