Triballi sarrissa

[Paralus]

'sarissa' is a non-greek word, quite possibly of Thracian origin, and originally meant simply 'long spear'.

Quite. Thracians are attested carrying spears near to twelve feet at the end of the fifth century. Indeed, they are claimed as the inspiration for Iphicrates’ mercenary unit. Spears of this length were not unusual.

Macedonian light cavalry were nick-named sarissaphoroi(long spear carriers)....but this does not necessarily mean they carried or used the infantry two-handed pike, but rather, "long spears".....no Depictions of Macedonian cavalry show them with anything longer than the 12 ft(3.6 m) xyston, used single-handedly...

Totally agree. This has been discussed in another thread – either here or at Pothos or both. Gets hard to remember. There isn’t enough decent artistic evidence but it would seem a counter weighted spear held at about the one third mark.

The Triballi weapon in question, then, is likely to have been a long lance ( up to 12 ft) used single-handedly......

Hammond (Philip of Macedon) takes a somewhat different view and suggests Philip was pinned to his horse by friendly fire. That is a possibility in the melee I’d think