Who would win?

[P. Lilius Frugius Simius]

OK, I thought it was II BCE...

A Marcus Antonius's legion is a different matter altogether... But anyway...

I recall Bruegger's description of the pila data from classical sources, most of the pila would simply sit on the ground and be annoying, and most of them would be set free during battle lulls (if you buy on that theory, which I obviously do).

Therefore I don't think the initial pila volley would be any more devastating than Persian arrows or javelins in a similar situation.

As Stephanos has rightly pointed out, in the real phalanx vs. legions encounters we have (different types of legions, I know, also different type of phalanxes as well, but it's the best we have anyway) phalanxes were basically only defeated through flanking. Let's also remember that Spartans were able to do maneuvers that no other phalanxes were (like splitting and working into smaller groups, etc... it was, essentially, the prototype of the first echelon tactics developed through the IV and III BCE by Makedonians, Samnites, Epirotians, Italiot Greeks, Carthaginians and, eventually, Romans as well (Scipio), specially when Hannibal's Libyan spearmen were hoplites à la "epibatai" (i.e. a bit lighter, smaller shields and spears) but knowing how to fight in smaller units (syntagmae, morai, lochoi, etc...)), the Spartans were not unbeatable, obviously, not even in a pure othismos (Epaminondas?) but let's remember we are talking Spartan hoplites against Roman infantry legionnaires (no auxiliaries, cavalry, etc).

If we don't accept the pila destroying the phalanx front, how would a pure infantry Roman legion break the phalanx front? Let's remember that there's no big difference (at least in body mechanics) between a gladius and a xiphos; and Spartans knew how to use them! I don't think a legion would find a way to break a phalanx on even ground, and no flanking maneuvers

Lastly, let's not forget the power of morale: once the Romans knew they were facing the heroes of Thermopylae and Plataea, they would just rout and run in panic at the salphinxes rythm before a single drop of blood was spilled... :-) )

khairete!

PS- let's also not forget that the IV CE Spartans did resist and wipe the floor at least once against (at least some of) Alaric's troops (which were Roman comitatenses, which I'd say would wipe the floor of any Marcus Antonius legion any day: Marcus Antonius vs. Julian or Stilicho? any day!) before Sparta being basically distroyed forever. The Spartans were "weird" at those times because the clinged to their former ways, there might not be such a big gap between a Spartan V BCE and IV CE phalanxes in terms of composition... and the V BCE Spartans would be really batle hardened, not just drilled!!!