specifics in Spear fighting combat

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

It seems this is what the greeks did,too,as we usually hear of peltasts being deployed in the flanks. And neither the Romans must have wanted their troops to retreat through their ranks when pursued...Hanibal risked the lives his own defeated first line in Zhama,in order not to disorder his second and third line...But they must have been able to perform this opening and closing maneuver in whatever way for when it was needed.
Khaire
Giannis