11-30-2006, 12:38 PM
Felix,
I concur. I think the analogy to a polearm is exactly how they were used ultimately - hence the change in tactics from one manual to another. It may be that the Sylloge omitted this description because it was the obvious thing to do. The menaulatoi could fulfil a variety of roles because the menaulion was much more like a pole arm than a spear.
Anastasiadis says that the Praecepta does not specify how the weapon was used to defeat cataphracts. However he puts this proposition, namely that the kontaria of the hoplitai would bristle 30 spans to the fore of the taxiarchy ( dwarfing the length of the menaulion) and would achieve first strike. So the enemy runs onto a thicket of kontaria -which could in most cases be counted on to stop a cataphract charge. However, if the enemy break through, then the menaulatoi could dispatch their foes by stabbing ( according to the Sylloge) the enemy horse, or a dismounted fully armoured cavalryman. The Praecepta also describes the situation where the enemy rush to attack in a linear fashion, the hoplitai pin them down to their front with their long kontaria while the javelineers and menaulatoi group up in phalanxes and rip into the enemy by outflanking them.
Anastasiadis also says the Tactica of Ouranos mimics a passage in the De Re Militari and shows the menaulion could also be used for skirmishing - the Tactica says this:
"Also, if they are standing high up on the rocks and keep watch on the roads from below, then dispatch javelin-throwers, bowmen and slingers and, if it is possible, also some menaulatoi should set out imediately against them from the flat and more level terrain to encircle those precipitous places."
If the weapon was hurled I can only imagine it being a very short distance when skirmishing perhaps. I have to agree that the use of the weapon must at the end of the day be likened to a polearm.
I concur. I think the analogy to a polearm is exactly how they were used ultimately - hence the change in tactics from one manual to another. It may be that the Sylloge omitted this description because it was the obvious thing to do. The menaulatoi could fulfil a variety of roles because the menaulion was much more like a pole arm than a spear.
Anastasiadis says that the Praecepta does not specify how the weapon was used to defeat cataphracts. However he puts this proposition, namely that the kontaria of the hoplitai would bristle 30 spans to the fore of the taxiarchy ( dwarfing the length of the menaulion) and would achieve first strike. So the enemy runs onto a thicket of kontaria -which could in most cases be counted on to stop a cataphract charge. However, if the enemy break through, then the menaulatoi could dispatch their foes by stabbing ( according to the Sylloge) the enemy horse, or a dismounted fully armoured cavalryman. The Praecepta also describes the situation where the enemy rush to attack in a linear fashion, the hoplitai pin them down to their front with their long kontaria while the javelineers and menaulatoi group up in phalanxes and rip into the enemy by outflanking them.
Anastasiadis also says the Tactica of Ouranos mimics a passage in the De Re Militari and shows the menaulion could also be used for skirmishing - the Tactica says this:
"Also, if they are standing high up on the rocks and keep watch on the roads from below, then dispatch javelin-throwers, bowmen and slingers and, if it is possible, also some menaulatoi should set out imediately against them from the flat and more level terrain to encircle those precipitous places."
If the weapon was hurled I can only imagine it being a very short distance when skirmishing perhaps. I have to agree that the use of the weapon must at the end of the day be likened to a polearm.
Peter Raftos
