The Makedonian phalanx -- why such depth?

[Paullus Scipio]

Paralus/Michael wrote:

This is quite silly.

...hardly polite !
The passage in question runs:
" The Persians were then enrolled in the various Macedonian units, so that the dekad(file) now consisted of a Macedonian dekadarch(file leader), two of his compatriots, one of them a dimoirites ( lit: double pay man, specifically called 'half-file leader' by Aelian ), the other a dekstateros(ten-stater man), so called from the pay he received, which was less than the 'double pay' soldiers but more that of the ordinary rank and file; twelve Persians and at the rear, another Macedonian 'ten stater man'. Four Macedonians that is - the file leader and three others on extra pay - and twelve Persians. The Macedonians carried their native equipment; the persians were armed either with bows or light javelins."(De Selincourt translation)

Notice that Arrian does not tell us where in the file the Macedonians stood (other than the rearmost man -the file closer, and of course the leader is presumably at the front), as I have pointed out. It is possible to interpret this as Macedonians at 1,2,3 and 16, as Paralus has done, but this is decidedly odd if the no.2 is indeed a 'half-file leader'. In that case we might expect him to be at 9, thus the Macedonians are at 1 and 8; 9 and 16 when lined up in file in open order, but when in 'half-files' for combat in close order, they would form the front and rear ranks.

Please copy me the passage in latinised Greek where Arrian mentions more than the decurion: you evidently have it.

I have sent you proof privately, rather than un-necessarily clutter up the thread.....