[split] Phalanx warfare: use of the spear

[Paul Bardunias]

Yes, the Sparrabarra were in essence the same as the early hoplite shield wall, with a much stronger missile component and shields that were a static barricade. You can think of the Persian formation as the ultimate shield wall in a way. It was all defensive "wall", and only less so offensive shock combat.

This I think explains the hoplite's success. By Marathon Greek hoplites on the mainland at least had moved from shield wall to phalanx, which did away with the missile component of the shield wall and instead just had the hoplites run through missile range right into shock combat. I wonder if in Ionia they still fought in the old fashion. It would explain why Herodotus describes the charge of the Athenians as unique, and why the Ionians fared so differently against the Persians. You can't out "shield-wall" Persian archers.

Interestingly, Plataea starts out with the Persian shield-wall winning because of the combination of missile saturation and local skirmishing troops- classic shield wall tactics. The hoplites suffered beneath the arrows and could not easily sally forth from the line to meet the local attacks. It is only when the Tegeans move from static shield-wall to offensive phalanx that they overwealm the Persians.