Othismos true nature

[hoplite14gr]

The only thing that I know from personal experience is that a block of 300 men 6X50 can move marching in oblong formation for up to 1000 metres without bracking ranks.
The same group could execute a 500 meter jog without loosing formation again, without bracking ranks. While jogging all 500 troopers could strike the left foot down to create noise at the sargent's command.
The group in question were conscripts with 3 weeks training.
Ancient people who had formation move as battle tactic could do even more difficult manouvers.
A group od 2400 spartans (4 600-men morae) could do that without second question.
So it is possible to bring solid blocks of men forward and attempt to crush them on the enemy. The denser formation always has the edge.
As people pointed out it is also a question of psychology and moral.
The less determined give way. True othismos possibly happened in Thyrea between the Argive and Spartan epilektoi wnen two very well trained and determined groups clashed and acording to Herodotus only 2 Argives and ! Spartan survived.
Most scholars make edjucated guesses while never have proper military experience.