![]() (And anyway, at Marathon it makes more sense if you treat the Greeks as Warband ) Jim. So it is entirely possible that the phalanx in 500BC was a different beast from the phalanx in 400BC. Indeed the phalanx may have developed to take advantage of the shield. At a signal the *phalanx advanced at the double or at a walk, and when within spear-thrust, the front ranks stabbed at their opponents, usually overarm. So the double grip shield could well have been in use before the hoplite phalanx was properly developed. The equipment was expensive and since hoplites were normally expected to provide their own, they had to be relatively wealthy.They deployed for battle shoulder to shoulder, usually eight or more deep, each man relying on his right neighbour's shield for the protection of his right side, since the shield-grip meant that half the shield projected to the left. (8–10 ft.) long, with iron point and butt, and short iron swords, sometimes straight, sometimes curved. Offensive weapons were a thrusting-spear, 2.5–3 m. (c.30 in.) in diameter, held by inserting the left arm through a central band (porpax, πόρπαξ), and gripping a cord or strap at the rim (antilabē, ἀντιλαβή). This large shield was made possible partly by its shape, which allowed it to be supported on the shoulder. Most important was a circular shield of wood or stiffened leather, faced with bronze, about 80 cm. Hoplites carried a large concave shield called an aspis (often referred to as a hoplon) made from wood and covered in bronze, measuring roughly 1 metre in diameter and weighing about 16 pounds. Equipment included bronze helmet of varying shape, corslet, originally of bronze, but later of leather or linen, and bronze greaves sometimes extras such as arm-guards. He held it by a single grip mounted in the center of the shield, so it is clear he used it much differently than a hoplite used his. He carried a large oblong (in later times a rectangular) curved shield called a scutum that covered much of the body. ExtractHoplites (ὁπλῖται), Greek heavy infantry. During the time the legionary’s equipment changed in detail, but was broadly the same.
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