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What did Greeks do about left-handed soldiers?
#1
Question in topic.

But they'd be difficult to fit into phalanx...
(Mika S.)

"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior." - Catullus -

"Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit."

"Audendo magnus tegitur timor." -Lucanus-
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#2
There were no left-handed hoplites. From the time they started to train they learned to fight right-handed. I'm left-handed but was taught to fight right-handed. Now I feel uncomfortable fighting left-handed and wish I had learned to fight both ways.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
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#3
My analogy is it is like learning the clarinet or the saxophone - the fingerings are the fingerings. You learn the whole instrument - to get this you do that. As Dan said - you trained to fit in. The innate feeling of "the wrong hand" is overcome (but I suspect the lefty/righty feeling never truly fades away). Doesn't matter - as an ephebe you learn "the phalanx way".
Cheryl Boeckmann
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#4
It has completely faded away for me. When I started to train I was a southpaw. Now it feels utterly unnatural to fight like that. I had broken ribs for a few months so had a strong incentive to fight left-handed but still couldn't do it. I do everything else left-handed and left-footed, including fencing. Cricket is the exception; my father taught me to bat right-handed so that is how I've always done it. I bowl, throw, and catch left-handed. Conditioning can cause the brain can adapt to anything.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
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#5
Thanks for answers!

I knew I would get answers here.
(Mika S.)

"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior." - Catullus -

"Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit."

"Audendo magnus tegitur timor." -Lucanus-
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#6
On a somewhat related note, the vast majority of pro hockey players from Canada and Russia shoot left-handed but are otherwise right-handed, because that's how they're taught to play as kids. But that isn't a common thing in the United States, so a much higher percentage of American players are right-handed shots. It's an important factor to consider in assembling a roster.
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