[split] Phalanx warfare: use of the spear

[JaM]

that sounds a bit strange, considering usually king, or general was in the front rank.. if entire rank is killed, i'd guess remaining would rather flee away than continue  (but of course, this is Sparta ..  btw, didnt Leonidas die during second day, or was it third? (dont remember)

i think that Thermopylae are not a good example as Persians were not fighting in a Hoplite phalanx..


and for Pydna, 500 was the high figure , seen also 200 mentioned by Polybios and Livy (if I remember it right)