The Makedonian phalanx -- why such depth?

[Paullus Scipio]

Paralus/Michael wrote:

I remain utterly unconvinced on the Macedonian phalanx fighting in files of eight. Sorry, that should be half files of eight.

...except that we are told, by an eye-witness (?), Kallikrates, that they did just that ( fought 8 deep)at Issus, and we are told of no other depth in action......

Furthermore, the manuals tell us that there were 'Half-file leaders'/hemilochites, and 'Quarter-file leaders'/enomotarchs. What purpose would these serve if whole files of 16 were the order in which they fought, and they never closed any further ?

On the other hand, it fits perfectly if your file of 16 in 'open order' closes up to 8 in 'half-file close order', the normal fighting formation/depth, and then on some occasions closes up even more to form 'locked shields/synaspismos' 4 deep......

Note that this also has the beauty that the bulk of the fighting men (5 of 8 ranks) are able to participate in battle, unlike '16 deep' where 11 ranks - 11/16 ths - of the men present are reduced to spectators, and those at the back of the crowd could have no idea of what was happening at the front.....on practical grounds alone, an actual battle- formation 16 deep is fairly unlikely.

A detailed study of the Manuals, and of the earlier drill of Xenophon, together with a working knowledge of real drill would convince you otherwise, and not only that, but the evolutionary process of Greek Drill can be seen.....

I am all but certain Hoplites fought in 'half-files' in close order, so that when a depth of 8 is described, the men actually fought 4 deep, as Xenophon tells us, or a Spartan phalanx 12 deep actually fought 6 deep. Similarly, the Macedonian phalanx described as '16 deep' normally, and which was this depth 95% of the time, closed up to half-files of 8 deep just before colliding with the enemy, as Kallikrates tells us ( and on occasions formed 'synaspismos' just 4 deep, with each man on an 18 inch frontage, standing side on.....)