Weight and grip of sarissa and shield in macedonian phalanx

[triarius354]

Note too that the shield is at an angle to the body (not square) and this is how synapsismos/locked shields was able to be formed with the sarissae protruding.

But the question remains, how much space was then occupied by single soldier. Personally, I don't think that much less than Polybios three feet of frontage woulb be practicable. Warry's 0,5 (or rather 0,45 m) seems simply to restricting for phalangites to use their weapons.
About the term "synapsismos" itself - my Greek is not very good, so could you explain if it means literally "locked" or "close (one to another)" shields.

One can also see why the sarissa, unlike mediaeval/renaissance pikes, was not used overhand - an overhand grip using a shield would place the shield in front of the face, blinding the user, and expose his body !

That's what I thought also.


As for the shields: In "Cambridge History of Greek&Roman Warfare vol I" in article about hellenistic military forces (Sekunda and de Souza) there is mention of three shields with diamter of 66, 73.6 and 74 cm (p337). Connolly after Asklepiodots gives 65-67 cm ("GRAW" p. 77) . Are there any other excavated shields of this kind?

Also, can I ask you to send me this article from Military Illustrated?
Thanks for all your help!