The Makedonian phalanx -- why such depth?

[Paullus Scipio]

Paul B. wrote:

The point being that the presence of nasty sharp weapons renders any attempt at 'shoving', even for a short while, suicidal.....

This is not even debatable. We KNOW that men came shield to shield in some battles. I'm not sure why you are argueing this tack. They may very well have not pushed at all and alaways fought at spear range, but that would be as much the result of specifically not closing as closing would be intentionally coming to grips.

I'm not saying it didn't happen , but it was always dangerous and bloody when opponents are forced together inside 'weapon reach' distance. Consider the almost always fatal form of duel where two opponents are tied together with a short rope/leash and dagger armed.....
For this reason, armed men are very careful about distance and reluctant to close. Again, compare riot footage where opponents generally stay outside 'weapon reach' venturing in only to launch an attack.
Re-enactors often allow themseves forward into 'weapon reach', partly for the sake of spectacle ( no-one wants to wait several hours for a result) and because they don't bear the fatal consequences....