specifics in Spear fighting combat

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

"Just as they were accustomed to do" may not refer to phalanx depth. I thought we had agreed in the other thread that there was not such thing as "normal" depth.They could change depth according to the situation. Of cource 4 ranks is in the lower end,and 50 in the extreme. "...take their positions" means they deployed in their usual way,with perhaps one of the ways i showed above,and locked shields. Nothing more. Depth had to do with the oponent and the lenght they wanted to achieve. I don't believe in Mantineia for example they were 4 deed either of the phalanxes. And we know that neither in Deleion they were. Another reason why they formed only 4 may had been that these soldiers were the most brilliantly equiped and the four ranks allowd for the prince nad the soldiers to come as close as possible. i don't think the mention of the depth has any significance in this case,Paul.
Khaire
Giannis