05-25-2021, 08:15 AM
Hi Sean. Ta for the feedback. :-)
I don't think Roman or any infantry that fought in melee combat were ever in loose formation. Polybius makes clear a Roman legionary occupied an area 3 x 3 feet, the equivalent of the Hellenistic intermediate order which was the default spacing of the pike phalanx (though it did fight legions in close order: 1,5 x 1,5 feet) and the deployment spacing of the hoplite phalanx. Roman infantry certainly had ranks and files. There is a mention in the sources (don't have it right now) that Pompey's lines at Pharsalus were 10 ranks deep.
Greek citizen hoplites certainly didn't have the training to execute wheels and there is no mention of subunits suitable for wheeling in their armies. As you say, they would just form up in a line, advance, and fight. The hoplites that overlapped the opponent's left would simply turn individually to face the edge of the enemy line and munch into it like pacmen.
Big Al was marching his phalanx rightwards in column, wheeling it back into line when the chariots charged it. Or is there something I'm missing?
I don't think Roman or any infantry that fought in melee combat were ever in loose formation. Polybius makes clear a Roman legionary occupied an area 3 x 3 feet, the equivalent of the Hellenistic intermediate order which was the default spacing of the pike phalanx (though it did fight legions in close order: 1,5 x 1,5 feet) and the deployment spacing of the hoplite phalanx. Roman infantry certainly had ranks and files. There is a mention in the sources (don't have it right now) that Pompey's lines at Pharsalus were 10 ranks deep.
Greek citizen hoplites certainly didn't have the training to execute wheels and there is no mention of subunits suitable for wheeling in their armies. As you say, they would just form up in a line, advance, and fight. The hoplites that overlapped the opponent's left would simply turn individually to face the edge of the enemy line and munch into it like pacmen.
Big Al was marching his phalanx rightwards in column, wheeling it back into line when the chariots charged it. Or is there something I'm missing?
![[Image: MOIzcsu.png]](https://i.imgur.com/MOIzcsu.png)
