07-18-2005, 12:36 PM
Quote:What other possible way could a spear of this length be held? Overarm would not be possible.
Of course, not overarm but overhand...
I certainly don't imagine a macedonian foot companion holding his sarissa like the classical era greek hoplites, who indeed held their spear --not sarissa-- overarm, as shown in vases paintings.
Now, forget the fact that this figurine is not entirely accurate. Indeed the shield's neck strap is missing. I chose it because the soldier's left hand is somewhat too big and that hand is my point, not his arm.
That left hand has the palm turned upwards.
After fooling about in front of my mirror with a broomhandle, I realized that with the palm turned downwards, like the man's right (rear) hand, I was able to align my left forearm --and thus the imaginary shield hanging on to it, parallel to my shoulders without having to twist my wrist into a quite uncomfortable position.
With the left (front) hand having the palm turned upwards (the accepted position), the shield will remain at an angle to the shoulders and leave an opening on your right side. Moreover, the more you extend your arm forward, the less protection you'll get from your shield which will end up not covering you at all, being almost perpendicular to your shoulders...
I hope I was clear enough this time.. :?:
Pascal Sabas
