Gang combat

[PMBardunias]

Interesting stuff, the other thing I notice is that the formations appear to be much deeper than they are wide, I doubt they did this to avoid stepping on the grass which suggests that most of the people there wanted to take part in the fight but didn't want to be on the front lines.

The form of this crowd is of the type generally seen in moving herds and probably follows some natural spacing rule- though part of that migh well be avoiding the front. Making a longer, thinner line is where the advent of proper ranks and files is advantageous, for here men can skulk in the rear ranks if they wished- as Tyrtaeos warned against. The lack of ranks and the ability to choose what distance from the front ranks you stand has been held up as evidence for opened order, fluid tactics for early hoplites. Clearly these men are in nothing like opened order, and could be hoplites and even fight in othismos if they were properly equipped.

If prehoplites were fighting like this gang, probably throwing javelins on the approach and from the rear, it is easy to imagine the development of the hoplite panoply for the fore-fighters without any greater need for formation. A line of such blob-like crowds forming alongside eachother on a battlefield, each following a different group of leaders would form a battle-line upon contact with the foes.

Why do the guys with the red always win

You know my answer to that! :wink: Thanks, that second video is clearer.