03-08-2009, 02:09 PM
I've been looking at lurvely illustrations of the Makedonians like this one and something isn't clicking for me. The sarissas were meant to keep the enemy at a distance, and the first five ranks or so could all reach the points of their weapons past the front rank of shields. But what were the ranks behind the fifth or maybe sixth for? If I understand correctly, increased depth in a Classical phalanx was used to increase momentum when shoving forward shield-on-shield but I thought a Makedonian phalanx didn't function this way, thus the longer spears. Am I mistaken? Or did the "extra" ranks provide pushing power in some other way, or strengthen the formation against breaking up?
Dan D'Silva
Far beyond the rising sun
I ride the winds of fate
Prepared to go where my heart belongs,
Back to the past again.
-- Gamma Ray
Well, I'm tough, rough, ready and I'm able
To pick myself up from under this table...
-- Thin Lizzy
Join the Horde! - http://xerxesmillion.blogspot.com/
Far beyond the rising sun
I ride the winds of fate
Prepared to go where my heart belongs,
Back to the past again.
-- Gamma Ray
Well, I'm tough, rough, ready and I'm able
To pick myself up from under this table...
-- Thin Lizzy
Join the Horde! - http://xerxesmillion.blogspot.com/