05-05-2005, 01:42 AM
I'll quote (p.168-9):
"It is a common misconception that the shield failed to offer much cover for the bearer's right flank while offering too much cover on the left, so that hoplites were forced to stand close together and in effect shelter behind the redundant left-hand halves of their neighbours' shields. This would be true if hoplites had stood frontally opposed to the enemy, like wrestlers, but since they actually stood sideways-on, like fencers, they automatically found themselves behind the centre of their shields, well covered on both sides."
"It is a common misconception that the shield failed to offer much cover for the bearer's right flank while offering too much cover on the left, so that hoplites were forced to stand close together and in effect shelter behind the redundant left-hand halves of their neighbours' shields. This would be true if hoplites had stood frontally opposed to the enemy, like wrestlers, but since they actually stood sideways-on, like fencers, they automatically found themselves behind the centre of their shields, well covered on both sides."
Dan Diffendale
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
Ph.D. candidate, University of Michigan
