Hoplites of the Archaic Age

[Duncan Head]

Duncan wrote:

he sees the side cutouts as useful because you can sling the shield on your back and run, and the gaps mean your elbows don't hit the shield.

...... :lol: :lol: :lol: ...to paraphrase John McEnroe "he can not be serious" !! hock:

...doesn't logic, not to mention our extant sources tell us that the first thing you do in a rout is to throw away that shield as a heavy encumbrance to running???

Who mentioned a rout? He's not talking about a rout, more an "evade" - perhaps runing back to your chariot or your ship after you've lobbed your spears, but in general he sees Geometric warfare as a flexible affair with lots of warriors running back and forth - more peltast than hoplite in style.