04-25-2009, 11:34 AM
I would imagine the front five ranks would have to form diagonally in order to allow the sarissa points to extend beyond the front rank; playing with model soldiers this is how you have to base phalangites modelled with lowered pikes. The rear ranks could stand as in an orthodox phalanx as their pikes are raised and their function is to keep the fighting edge in the fight by preventing their flight; I cannot see how a pike armed phalanx can operate like a spear armed one and the different equipment reflects this, to whit the rimless shield. This cannot be deployed forward and would not provide the resistance to the asphixiating press of 'othismos' described elsewhere on this site. When the phalanx moves into 'synaspismos' presumably only the front rank's pikes are lowered andthe files line up behind the leader.
Would like to see the Connelly article, presumably Lane-Fox must have done some work with the phalanx extras in 'Alexander', has he not written anything?
Then something interesting might have come of an otherwise misfiring movie.
Without 246 men or so, ok, 128, frontage of eight, I can't see too much of worth arising how else can you judge the interaction of the ranks and files and attempt any manouevres or formation changes?
Would like to see the Connelly article, presumably Lane-Fox must have done some work with the phalanx extras in 'Alexander', has he not written anything?
Then something interesting might have come of an otherwise misfiring movie.
Without 246 men or so, ok, 128, frontage of eight, I can't see too much of worth arising how else can you judge the interaction of the ranks and files and attempt any manouevres or formation changes?
