ranked phalanx of vase

[Sean Manning]

I could be missing something, but would you not drive off with the right leg?
the left leg leading, with the aspice to the front?

I think that hoplites probably usually led with the left leg and struck with the rear, right hand by turning their hips and legs; a lot like boxers throwing a cross. Taking a pace forward (a normal walking step, where the rear foot becomes the lead foot or the lead foot becomes the rear foot) gives more power and reach, but would make it hard for the man next to you to protect your right side and back. Obviously this is just a generalization: hoplites might pass forward to push into a gap in the enemy line, or pass back to get some room during a spear fight, and some shield fighters prefer to lead with the right leg. I have never fought in a line or handled Greek kit (hopla), but this fits Greek art and the requirements of bodymechanics.

You're clearly talking about Bolognaise stuff, perhaps Mancioliono? You're reasoning is actually rather sound, I don't necessarily have much to add. Other than the simple fact that if we follow VDH less closely and allow for more looser formations than the Ren fight books we have and what we know of body mechanics make a lot of sense in this context.

Yes, Manciolino is the only author or living tradition I know of who covers any kind of spear and shield. Do you know what the Sikh dances with spear and shield are called? Despite being Canadian I know nothing about them.

I think its pretty clear that in a big battle, hoplite spearmen were supposed to have a space two cubits by two cubits to fight in; but its likely that those hoplites who bothered to learn spear and shield fighting focused on single combat (or martial dances which imitated single combat) anyways.