06-19-2010, 05:55 AM
Nor does the fact that they were 'unused', but in existence 3-4 years mean it took that long to train a competent 'sarissaphoroi'!
That training was comprehensive is attested by Alexander's bloodless drill display victory - a standard of drill by thousands that surpasses the mere hundreds in the Brigade of Guards Queen's Birthday Trooping of the Colour!
Arrian:
"Alexander drew up the phalanx in a column 120 deep, with 200 cavalry before and behind/on the flanks, and gave orders for strict silence, and to obey orders smartly.Then he gave the order for the phalanx first to erect their spears/sarissae, and after, at the word of command to lower the massed points as for attack lowering them now to the left, then to the right, again upon command.He then moved the phalanx smartly forward, and wheeling it this way and that, caused it to execute various intricate movements. Having thus put his troops through through a number of of different formation changes with great rapidity, he then ordered his left to form column/wedge and advanced to the attack.
The enemy, already shaken by the smartness and discipline of these manouevres, abandoned their positions on the lower slopes without waiting for the Macedonians to come to drips with them.Thereupon Alexander ordered his men to raise the war-cry and clash their spears/sarissae against their shields. This was altogether to much for the Taulantians(Thracian tribe), who hastily withdrew...." (Arrian Book I.6)
That training was comprehensive is attested by Alexander's bloodless drill display victory - a standard of drill by thousands that surpasses the mere hundreds in the Brigade of Guards Queen's Birthday Trooping of the Colour!
Arrian:
"Alexander drew up the phalanx in a column 120 deep, with 200 cavalry before and behind/on the flanks, and gave orders for strict silence, and to obey orders smartly.Then he gave the order for the phalanx first to erect their spears/sarissae, and after, at the word of command to lower the massed points as for attack lowering them now to the left, then to the right, again upon command.He then moved the phalanx smartly forward, and wheeling it this way and that, caused it to execute various intricate movements. Having thus put his troops through through a number of of different formation changes with great rapidity, he then ordered his left to form column/wedge and advanced to the attack.
The enemy, already shaken by the smartness and discipline of these manouevres, abandoned their positions on the lower slopes without waiting for the Macedonians to come to drips with them.Thereupon Alexander ordered his men to raise the war-cry and clash their spears/sarissae against their shields. This was altogether to much for the Taulantians(Thracian tribe), who hastily withdrew...." (Arrian Book I.6)
"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
