Middle republican triplex acies: a problem of space

[drsrob]

My Latin Dictionary gives as meaning of hasta:

• 1. bar, staf, schaft.
  2. spear, lance, javelin.

So I'd say it can refer to any shafted weapon.

About light infantry without shield or sword:

• ... ita nec eques regius equiti par erat, insuetus ad stabilem pugnam, nec pedes concursator et uagus et prope seminudus genere armorum ueliti Romano parmam gladiumque habenti pariterque et ad se tuendum et ad hostem petendum armato. non tulere itaque dimicationem nec alia re quam uelocitate tutantes se in castra refugerunt.

  "Under these conditions Philip's cavalry, unaccustomed to a stationary combat, were no match for the Roman horse, and his infantry, trained to skirmish in loose order and unprotected by armour, were at the mercy of the velites who with their swords and shields were equally prepared for defence and attack. Incapable of sustaining the conflict and trusting solely to their mobility they fled back to their camp. "

This shows that the velite style fighting with sword and shield was peculiar to the Romans. The Macedonian skirmishers are called unarmoured. As the velites had no more armour than shield and helmet, that must mean that King Philip's light infantry lacked even these.