08-16-2007, 09:20 PM
Quote:Spearmen can slowly advnace in open order and use the tricks I described in my previous posts to keep ranks.
Can you link us to some posts in particular, or give us a synopsis. I'd like to draw from your experience. I have seen a study using only 10 men in line that showed they could not maintain formation above about 200 meters of running. Thus a true phalanx would probably be worse. The problem of course is what we mean by "run" and just how closely spaced they were at the beginning of the charge and upon contact.
I am of two minds on this. As you saw if you followed the link to my blog, there is much discussion of how disorganized hoplites became when they charged- although they have the details of what happens when crowds move all wrong, which I set right.
On the other hand, I tend to think that we overestimate the speed of advance and thus the disorganization. I would like to read of your "tricks".
(where in Greece are you from?)
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
