09-27-2013, 01:40 AM
I occasionally head this as one of the reasons that spears/pikes/lances are poorer weapons, but these ideas are entirely unfounded. In the ancient world, most spears and pikes were made of ash or cornel - cornel being one of the only woods so dense that it sinks in water, and ash being also extremely dense. It would take more than a few strokes to shiver a Greek dory; indeed, they were of such quality that it was the only weapon of many hoplites, and even though you could snap the shaft if given time, the hoplite isn't just going to stand there and let you hack at his spear.
It is recorded that at the Battle if Pydna the Romans attempted to cut off the pike heads of the Macedonians but they were unsuccessful; Herodotus tells us how at Marathon the Median spears snapped after only a few thrusts, but the Athenian hoplites were able to keep on thrusting. The spear and pike are extremely good weapons, being simple to make and more than adequate to turn your foe into a foe-kabob. Certainly, no good infantry spears or pikes would be able to be cut through without much effort.
It is recorded that at the Battle if Pydna the Romans attempted to cut off the pike heads of the Macedonians but they were unsuccessful; Herodotus tells us how at Marathon the Median spears snapped after only a few thrusts, but the Athenian hoplites were able to keep on thrusting. The spear and pike are extremely good weapons, being simple to make and more than adequate to turn your foe into a foe-kabob. Certainly, no good infantry spears or pikes would be able to be cut through without much effort.
