07-07-2009, 04:50 AM
Yes, I am thoroughly familiar with Luke's well-researched articles. I also read Best's work many years ago, and if I recall correctly, it is only ever a small minority of Thracians who use long spears as opposed to the majority 'Longche' dual-purpose spears circa 5 ft long.
In the Iliad there are a couple of references to 'Boarding pikes'...Homer, in the battle by the ships speaks of "long jointed pikes they had lying on deck for sea-fighting" ( 15.390 ) and later Aias fights with "a great sea-fighting pike, fitted together with clamps to a length of twenty-two cubits" (15.677)....on any reckoning a formidable weapon over 30 feet long, which our Hero strides from ship to ship with!!!
Allowing for Heroic Exaggeration the reference to 'joints' and 'clamps' might imply a sarissa- like weapon of unknown length.
I don't think Boar-Spears are overly relevant...while large bladed and used two handed, they are always relatively short, so as to be handy in scrub where the Boars often 'go to earth'.
Perhaps all these influenced Philip's thinking, but I still think one can trace a clear evolution through the tapered dory to the ultimate spear - the sarissa.
In the Iliad there are a couple of references to 'Boarding pikes'...Homer, in the battle by the ships speaks of "long jointed pikes they had lying on deck for sea-fighting" ( 15.390 ) and later Aias fights with "a great sea-fighting pike, fitted together with clamps to a length of twenty-two cubits" (15.677)....on any reckoning a formidable weapon over 30 feet long, which our Hero strides from ship to ship with!!!
Allowing for Heroic Exaggeration the reference to 'joints' and 'clamps' might imply a sarissa- like weapon of unknown length.
I don't think Boar-Spears are overly relevant...while large bladed and used two handed, they are always relatively short, so as to be handy in scrub where the Boars often 'go to earth'.
Perhaps all these influenced Philip's thinking, but I still think one can trace a clear evolution through the tapered dory to the ultimate spear - the sarissa.
"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
