Some Aspis Revisionism

[PMBardunias]

Usually new hoplites who are quick to lock shileds fumble and get "left-under right". Our new recruits usully to that until properly drilled.

Because this is the most natural way to do it. I seriously think you give up on it too fast. First, I think many of your shields are too large for their bearers (surely the one I cut and pasted above was) and they extend too far to the right past the man's body. The blow to the elbow you describe should be next to impossible if you form square to the enemy with a shield that fits the body properly, not extending far to the right. It doesn't have to extend to his right at all because he is getting in behind your shield to cover his right. Secondly, wrap your arm- hoplites did, maybe this is why.

When advancing against an enemy phallanx you advance "sideways" Please see our video.
We still working on advansing jogging as the Athenians did in Marathon vs archers.

This is confusing, since you obviously cannot "jog" sideways, you must advance frontally. Maybe there is confusion about the course of events, so I will detail them. You line up in a phalanks. It is now that you form as I described, frontally, about the space of an aspis apart.

You charge (late 5th c), running or jogging, and since the average Athenian was not a member of the Bersiglieri band, you surely lose formation if not between ranks, then along them, and need to reform a straight line when you stop just short of the enemy line. The men now blow their aspis-width spacing because they are trying to cover themselves witht he shield next to them. I think this reformation is best done as it is done "naturally" by coming up behind the shield to the man on your right. Any damage to your elbow at this point is more than outweighed by the immanent death that awaits you if you have your arm held away from your body and someone else's rim on your chest when the ranks pack in tight. You have experienced the first and so fear it, but not the second and so don't appreciate it (no modern man has). Any terminal advance at this point is a very short distance and you can actually stand any way you wish at this point for doratismos because you have properly set the spacing and overlap for when the ranks close and collide and you get squashed up against your own shield.

The last 2 hoplites at the bottom of the image show one gue while stiking and another resting the spear on the shiled rim.

Not sure what that referred to.