05-27-2013, 01:27 PM
Returning to speak about infantry's deployment, I found some interesting points in Tacitus (historiae,2.42) and Frontinus (stratagemata,2.3.20). In each account the units are deployed in "cunei"(wedges) in order to leave intervals between themselves( in the first case because the ground was irregoular and sattered by trees and shrubs, in the second case the gaps were leave in order to host skirmishres). This could confirm the hypothesis according to wich the gaps were " caused" by very close formations( wedges) and then (partially) closed when these formations extended themselves... by the way, again in the Stratagemata (2.3.17) speaking about gaps in the battle line, Frontinus uses the latin term "relinquere" ( to leave). This may suggest that gaps were actually closed before a clash...
Francesco Guidi
