Hoplites fighting in Phalanx formation

[Dan Diffendale]

The first bit about open formation is rubish!The man does not only dissagree with a respectful source(Thoucydites)but he simply ignores every single piece of arcaelogical and literal evidence we have!AND common sence,because if you imagine a battle in that formation described,it wouldn't be any different than Homeric battles.And he simply bases his theory on the mobilty needed to achieve a powerful hit.

It's perfectly possible to disagree with a "respectful" source and not be "rubbish." Part of van Wees' argument is that, indeed, things hadn't changed much since Homeric battles -- but ah-ha! Exactly! Homer is describing maybe 8th century warfare, not whatever might or might not have happened in the era of the Trojan War... so maybe we shouldn't dismiss the idea that Homeric battle must be different than slightly later?

I just hope someone takes the time to do an intense study, and hopefully reject Polybius' notion that a hoplite would need 6 feet of space to fight effectively.

I seriously doubt any modern could do a better study than Polybius already did. He was a commander in the army of the Achaean Confederation in 169-168 BC. Besides, Victor Davis Hanson doesn't have any more experience in a phalanx than Hans van Wees does.