"The Hoplite Phalanx in Combat " Topic

"The attack of the hoplite phalanx started with the hoplites of the three or four first ranks (lines) holding their spears horizontally facing the enemy. Thus three or four spearheads prevented the enemy from reaching the frontline of the phalanx. The hoplites of the rear ranks behind the third or the fourth one, were holding their spears in an inclined position in order not to injure with their spearheads the fellow hoplites of the front ranks and to have their sauroterae* directed downwards so that they could kill the wounded enemies lying in the ground, when they were marching over them. The main purpose of this inclined position of the spears was to intercept the missiles of the enemy light infantry (javelins, arrows, stones etc.).

The battle started with the two opposing hoplite phalanxes marching the one against the other. The approach to the battlefield was accompanied either by war anthems, the paeans – as the armies of Spartans and other Dorians used to do – or by war cries. When the hoplite armies approached each other at a distance of about half or one stadion (89 or 177 meters), the hoplites began to run in order to collide with the enemy. This is what the Athenians and the Plataeans did at Marathon against the Persians. The Spartans were an exception to this general rule because on the contrary they were marching in close quarters until the moment of the collision, and at a synchronized march, the pace of which was given by the sounds of pan-pipes. These tactics of the Spartans aimed to the terrorizing of the enemy army through their demonstrated collectedness and apathy. Some researchers have hypothesized that the armies of other Doric cities as well followed the same tactics when approaching the battlefield.

The first stage of a hoplite conflict was the ‘doratismos' that is to say the hard spear strokes between the first ranks of the warring phalanxes. The wooden shafts of several spears were broken during the fierce combat. The opponents were approaching so close that their shields were soon touching each other. The spear was now more difficult to use in such a limited space, for this reason the hoplite often used to abandon it and draw his sword. This was the phase of the combat called ‘othismos' (the push). A key element of the othismos was the unbearable pressure on the enemy phalanx with the surface of the shields of the promachoi (the hoplites of the front lines), with their swords and also with the spearheads of the fellow hoplites of the rear ranks who could strike the enemy phalanx thanks to the long wooden shafts of their spears. The hoplites of the rear ranks used to push the ones of the front lines in order to strengthen their pressure on the enemy formations. Physical strength was crucial during this fight…"
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Hoplite phalanx advancing…

"A magnificent reenactment of a Greek Hoplite phalanx advancing on the battlefield, by the Spanish historical association and reenactment group Athenea Promakhos, one of the best in the world concerning the topic of ancient Greek warfare (copyright: Ana Belen Rubio/ Athenea Promakhos). Felicitations to them for their work…."

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