11-08-2006, 09:46 AM
I'm glad Stefanos has established the distinction between spear-phalanx and pike-phalanx the original question didn't address this important difference. I notice also the notion of spears or pikes of varying length is present: I, too, was brought up to believe that Alexander's phalanx had (comparatively) short spears in the front rank and progressively longer ones in the succeeding ranks. My subsequent reading has, however, revealed no evidence for this, current theory seeming to favour the notion that the Macedonian Sarissa (as well as the earlier dory) was of uniform length throughtout the phalanx. A wall of points sounds like a great idea until you use a spear in combat. Does anyone have evidence from primary sources?
