04-26-2011, 02:54 PM
Quote:[quote]I'd be wary about lowering my spear beneath my shield. If the phalanx presses in you might find it stuck down there. Up top you can use it to ward your face.
Not really, since a normal pre Iphicratean spear is not that long as to not being able to draw it back with very quick and simple moves. Someone would have to keep it there in order for you not to be able to draw it back and place it up again and this is highly improbable since that would mean that an enemy first ranker should lay down his own shield and weapon... A spear was supposed to aim at the enemy's face and legs (this is what shin-guards were anyways worn for) and so its length and grip were accordingly calculated.
