07-15-2013, 05:29 PM
I think that one of the main problems to be addressed is that if the legionaries had more than one pilum and for some reason they did not throw it, what happened next? They had to draw their swords, they obviously would have no free hand to hold the second pilum. Where would they put it? Laying on the ground? Very improbable... Should they do so, then if the line pushed forward, servants should collect them but if the line retreated as was more than common among Romans? They surely would not want hundreds of perfectly battle-worthy pila just laying there for the enemy to pick up. And if they did not just lay it down, what did they do? Pass it to the rear? This would take a lot of time as all pila should be handed on and on until they were collected by some servant, it would be better to just throw them.... Has anyone reenacted such a mechanism?
