07-04-2009, 02:14 AM
Whist in accord with most/all of the above views, it seems to me that the dory was parallel sided with a central grip right down to after the Persian wars. Sometime in the first half of the 5C BC, the tapered shaft with rear grip and smaller head appears, but does not universally replace the earlier type. In an effort to 'convert' existing dories to the 'new fashion' some employ lead weights added to the sauroter to produce a rearward balance. The changed balance point allowed the production of slightly longer spears - e.g. Iphicrates type, and ultimately led to the design of the macedonian pike - which of necessity had to be tapered in shaft.
I offer this as a working hypothesis, though I have not fully researched it...........
I offer this as a working hypothesis, though I have not fully researched it...........
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
