10-22-2008, 09:37 PM
As far as the Persian Sparabara are concerned, the inferiority of the single rank of Persian spearmen to multiple ranks of hoplites could be related to several factors, not just the depth of the spearmen. As I recall, the shortness of the Persian spear was considered to be one problem. The construction of the spara shield is less substantial than the apsis; and the men were much less heavily armoured. The Sparabara were supposed to protect the archers behind them, not provide the main offensive impetus of a Persian army, whereas the hoplites were by far the main offensive component of a classical Greek army.
Felix Wang
