12-19-2014, 07:09 PM
:dizzy: It's an interesting conundrum here that while carrying an aspis shield on one's left arm made the physical act of defense by an individual easier on that side, the fact that hoplite phalanxes tended to 'drift' right-ward during advance (see Thucydides 5.71.1-2 detailing this common phenomenon at Mantinea in 418) made the left wing subject to out-flanking and envelopment and thus tactically harder to defend overall. In consequence, most phalanxes that met defeat (or exchanged victories on opposite wings) suffered failure on their left sides. This usually led to a either one army abandoning the field or triggered a re-engagement that then yielded a final 'winner' (though often no more than nominal in the case of abandonment by a force that had actually succeeded on its own right wing), which made formally recognized draws a real rarity. Such vulnerability of the left to envelopment led to that flank being universally recognized as 'defensive' and encouraged reliance on the right as the 'offensive' wing.
The Spartans developed a practical approach using this battlefield reality in their tactic of cyclosis, which deliberately sought to extend their right wing (where their best troops were posted) to achieve victory before their left could collapse. They (and most others) also tended to post the 'second best' men on the far left toward helping it to hold out until their right could carry the day. Philip II of Macedonia would go this method one better by placing a strong cavalry guard on his left flank while filling that wing with pike-armed troops specifically designed to stalemate opposing hoplite spearmen. These precautions were meant to buy sufficient time for the elite hoplites (hypaspists) and cavalry (Companion lancers) on his right wing to then carry out an offensive envelopment. Though a definite upgrade in employing specialized arms, this does not seem to really be all that different in general concept from what the Spartans had pursued with picked hoplites alone.
Anyway, it would thus appear that the left flank was generally harder to defend; this wasn't a function of which arm carried the shield, but rather of how phalanxes tended to move across a battlefield. :grin:
The Spartans developed a practical approach using this battlefield reality in their tactic of cyclosis, which deliberately sought to extend their right wing (where their best troops were posted) to achieve victory before their left could collapse. They (and most others) also tended to post the 'second best' men on the far left toward helping it to hold out until their right could carry the day. Philip II of Macedonia would go this method one better by placing a strong cavalry guard on his left flank while filling that wing with pike-armed troops specifically designed to stalemate opposing hoplite spearmen. These precautions were meant to buy sufficient time for the elite hoplites (hypaspists) and cavalry (Companion lancers) on his right wing to then carry out an offensive envelopment. Though a definite upgrade in employing specialized arms, this does not seem to really be all that different in general concept from what the Spartans had pursued with picked hoplites alone.
Anyway, it would thus appear that the left flank was generally harder to defend; this wasn't a function of which arm carried the shield, but rather of how phalanxes tended to move across a battlefield. :grin:
It\'s only by appreciating accurate accounts of real combat past and present that we can begin to approach the Greek hoplite\'s hard-won awareness of war\'s potential merits and ultimate limitations.
- Fred Eugene Ray (aka "Old Husker")
- Fred Eugene Ray (aka "Old Husker")
