02-25-2008, 01:39 PM
off topic: my first name? because my middle name is alexander. I do go by it, a fair amount of time.
Thank you for that group, This is part of the reason that i wnat to learn these tactics. SCA combat.
It is not quite true that Greeks only fought in group combat. Thats all that they were trained for in basic training.But there were tutors of the sword who tought in single combat, to preserve one's life. These men, hoplomachoi, taught to fight when ranks were broken. Generally, the side whose phalanx had broken lost. But a fair amount of the time they also seemed to just break ranks simultaneously or nearly so. Greek Hoplite, 480-323 BC
From what i have read about, the phalanx formation generally spread out after the initial impact. After that, most of the front line spears are broken or damaged, and ive read that this is when the sword comes into play most. Correct me if im wrong, but from various sources it appears to me that after the impact and a short shoving match, battle wore down quickly into isolated patches of one,two, and threes combat. Not necessarily breaking the phalanx, but after impact any momentum is lost and the object then was to kill as many as possible to break the enemies formation.
paragraph two
greek sword and swordmanship
If you still had your spear intact in these smaller, grouped fights, then why not use it?
Thank you for that group, This is part of the reason that i wnat to learn these tactics. SCA combat.
It is not quite true that Greeks only fought in group combat. Thats all that they were trained for in basic training.But there were tutors of the sword who tought in single combat, to preserve one's life. These men, hoplomachoi, taught to fight when ranks were broken. Generally, the side whose phalanx had broken lost. But a fair amount of the time they also seemed to just break ranks simultaneously or nearly so. Greek Hoplite, 480-323 BC
From what i have read about, the phalanx formation generally spread out after the initial impact. After that, most of the front line spears are broken or damaged, and ive read that this is when the sword comes into play most. Correct me if im wrong, but from various sources it appears to me that after the impact and a short shoving match, battle wore down quickly into isolated patches of one,two, and threes combat. Not necessarily breaking the phalanx, but after impact any momentum is lost and the object then was to kill as many as possible to break the enemies formation.
paragraph two
greek sword and swordmanship
If you still had your spear intact in these smaller, grouped fights, then why not use it?
