06-05-2011, 02:27 AM
Paul is right when he say that the short sword was good for the crammed phalanx conditions.
Equipmes is belives to be standard in the Bronze age where the king was distributing the goods. Until Macedonian kings re-establish state owned workshops there was little standarization between 800 B.C to 350 B.C. It depended in what you favored or what you could afford.
Now: if you are not posted on the rightmost stichos of the phalanx you have VERY limited right hand movement. As long as the opponents resist you can only do overhead stabbing or if you are experienced the "Gurka cut" with the kopis. So naturally a short sword or even a humble dagger can wreck havoc in this conditions.
If the enemy breaks all sword tricks apply but this is another thing as you are not in the phalanx formation.
After several finger scars and elbow bruises I am adamant on this as I have tried many times and even experienced sword instructors who found themselves in our packed ranks admitted that most of the sword-play was negated by the very nature of the phalanx.
It was only a matter of time for the hoplites of your average city state to abandon the long and expensive blades for something more appropriate for the job at hand
Kind regards
Equipmes is belives to be standard in the Bronze age where the king was distributing the goods. Until Macedonian kings re-establish state owned workshops there was little standarization between 800 B.C to 350 B.C. It depended in what you favored or what you could afford.
Now: if you are not posted on the rightmost stichos of the phalanx you have VERY limited right hand movement. As long as the opponents resist you can only do overhead stabbing or if you are experienced the "Gurka cut" with the kopis. So naturally a short sword or even a humble dagger can wreck havoc in this conditions.
If the enemy breaks all sword tricks apply but this is another thing as you are not in the phalanx formation.
After several finger scars and elbow bruises I am adamant on this as I have tried many times and even experienced sword instructors who found themselves in our packed ranks admitted that most of the sword-play was negated by the very nature of the phalanx.
It was only a matter of time for the hoplites of your average city state to abandon the long and expensive blades for something more appropriate for the job at hand
Kind regards
HOPLITE14GR (aka Stefanos)
Phokean Ekdromos
http://hetairoi.de/
http://hoplomachia.gr
http://stefanosskarmintzos.wordpress.com
Phokean Ekdromos
http://hetairoi.de/
http://hoplomachia.gr
http://stefanosskarmintzos.wordpress.com
