03-02-2008, 03:34 PM
Quote:Their value in massed spear fighting can be questioned because this was not their intent and you see most of them carry weapons not easily handled in packed groups.
Its not a case of mass spear-fighting, but masses of men colliding. Weapons play is secondary, and this film shows some of the best footage of men colliding in formation that I've seen. They are the only ones I know of who are using enough men to show the true properties of such a crash, and even they should have at least 4 ranks and overlapping shields for the most basic hoplite phalanx.
There are a number of sites online that profess to know "hoplomachia" and how hoplites fought, and have "tested" lots of maneuvers, but without a realistic number of men and the conditions they create this is guesswork. Perhpas worse that guesswork, since many things that seem correct with unrealistic loose formations will not work with in the real combat environment of the hoplite.
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!"
