04-17-2009, 02:03 PM
Here follows a report made by my friend Peter MacKinnon:
I attended my first Conference since 1995 this Easter, I was the shabbiest hoplite to take the field, having only returned to Ancient reenactment since January. I borrowed an aspis and a Depeeka Corinthian from Richard and also borrowed the original linothorax and greaves made c. 1974 by the Harris brothers (who started AMMAS back in 1971). So I looked very shabby compared to all the beautiful kits on display, but at least the linothorax and greaves looked like they had seen a battle or three (actually more like hundreds, which they have).
The combined drill on Friday worked well, with the MelborneHoplitikin picking up the SydneyAncients commands quickly. There was discussion around whether turns should be towards the aspis or dori (I'm inclined to favout the MH method of turning toward the dori as this presents the shield to the enemy) and one MH lad commented that learning the numbered commands used by SA was easy compared to the ancient Greek ones Arthur of MH uses.
MH also performed their drill on another day and the use of ancient Greek commands were impressive. I suspect there will be discussion amongst SA about possibly using them too.
The high point of course was the "Battle of Marathon". We fielded 19 hoplites with safety glasses (constantly fogging up in the damp conditions and from my perspective making everything look misty). Several of us had snappy mirrored or black wrap-arounds (very Dr Who).
There were a similar number of archers and we formed up in 4 ranks of 5, marching at the slow time towards the archers with spears in the high or low attack position (rear ranks porting theirs). We marched to the cadence set by Arthur, with us all calling "Eros Thanikite" (apologies to Arthur if I mangled the spelling). It got pretty noisy to the point a horn was seconded to sound the halt as some hoplites couldn't hear the call.
The archers were at first asked to volley fire in trajectory down onto us and the comments later from the archers were that it was quite difficult to get the range right with the phalanx moving. Eventually we allowed flat fire straight at us when closer and once we got cocky, we even stopped the advance some 30 m from them and allowed them to fire into us until all arows were exhausted. I can't recall how many runs we made, but it was a lot. We eventually reduced to ranks of 3 and any hits to unarmoured parts were taken and the hoplite retired.
As for hits - there was only one hit in the whole exercise that could be considered a fatal injury; being an arrow that came down next to Arthur's neck, inside the yoke of the linothorax. Most hits were to the right arm, especially around the right elbow. Craig Sitch copped one on the bicep and there were several hits to right hands (Craig Gascoigne copped one on the tip of his thumb). Other than that, there only a few to feet and that was it. Most were to the aspis or to the helmet, with the occasional hit to a greave (my 10 yr old was participating as an archer and I think some of his hit greaves, from what he said). I took several hits to the top of the helmet and one glanced off my left cheek piece (sorry for the dings Richard). Interestingly, there were no thigh hits, even though the shields were raised to protect the face, especially by the front line.
The overriding impression was that the hoplite was relatively invulnerable to arrow fire, especially if not concentrated. It should be noted that while the archers may not have had the experience to drop their arrows on target very accurately, the Greeks were only advancing at the slow time. As Peter Radvan said, if they were approached at the double, or even a charge at the end, there would have been a lot more pressure on them and they would have gotten off far fewer shots before hit by the Greek line.
I have been wondering since if they would have marched up with the spears raised to the vertical or shouldered, thus protecting the right arms, until about to engagte, then having the spears presented at the last minute.
Anyway, there is already talk of doing Plataea at the next Conference, or alternatively to doing something in August that year in Melbourne for the anniversary of Marathon. I'll certainly be at either - it was the most fun I've had in years.
Regards
Peter Mac Kinnon
hopefully Craig Gascoigne will post images soon. I have 1 or 2 if people are interested/
regards
Richard
I attended my first Conference since 1995 this Easter, I was the shabbiest hoplite to take the field, having only returned to Ancient reenactment since January. I borrowed an aspis and a Depeeka Corinthian from Richard and also borrowed the original linothorax and greaves made c. 1974 by the Harris brothers (who started AMMAS back in 1971). So I looked very shabby compared to all the beautiful kits on display, but at least the linothorax and greaves looked like they had seen a battle or three (actually more like hundreds, which they have).
The combined drill on Friday worked well, with the MelborneHoplitikin picking up the SydneyAncients commands quickly. There was discussion around whether turns should be towards the aspis or dori (I'm inclined to favout the MH method of turning toward the dori as this presents the shield to the enemy) and one MH lad commented that learning the numbered commands used by SA was easy compared to the ancient Greek ones Arthur of MH uses.
MH also performed their drill on another day and the use of ancient Greek commands were impressive. I suspect there will be discussion amongst SA about possibly using them too.
The high point of course was the "Battle of Marathon". We fielded 19 hoplites with safety glasses (constantly fogging up in the damp conditions and from my perspective making everything look misty). Several of us had snappy mirrored or black wrap-arounds (very Dr Who).
There were a similar number of archers and we formed up in 4 ranks of 5, marching at the slow time towards the archers with spears in the high or low attack position (rear ranks porting theirs). We marched to the cadence set by Arthur, with us all calling "Eros Thanikite" (apologies to Arthur if I mangled the spelling). It got pretty noisy to the point a horn was seconded to sound the halt as some hoplites couldn't hear the call.
The archers were at first asked to volley fire in trajectory down onto us and the comments later from the archers were that it was quite difficult to get the range right with the phalanx moving. Eventually we allowed flat fire straight at us when closer and once we got cocky, we even stopped the advance some 30 m from them and allowed them to fire into us until all arows were exhausted. I can't recall how many runs we made, but it was a lot. We eventually reduced to ranks of 3 and any hits to unarmoured parts were taken and the hoplite retired.
As for hits - there was only one hit in the whole exercise that could be considered a fatal injury; being an arrow that came down next to Arthur's neck, inside the yoke of the linothorax. Most hits were to the right arm, especially around the right elbow. Craig Sitch copped one on the bicep and there were several hits to right hands (Craig Gascoigne copped one on the tip of his thumb). Other than that, there only a few to feet and that was it. Most were to the aspis or to the helmet, with the occasional hit to a greave (my 10 yr old was participating as an archer and I think some of his hit greaves, from what he said). I took several hits to the top of the helmet and one glanced off my left cheek piece (sorry for the dings Richard). Interestingly, there were no thigh hits, even though the shields were raised to protect the face, especially by the front line.
The overriding impression was that the hoplite was relatively invulnerable to arrow fire, especially if not concentrated. It should be noted that while the archers may not have had the experience to drop their arrows on target very accurately, the Greeks were only advancing at the slow time. As Peter Radvan said, if they were approached at the double, or even a charge at the end, there would have been a lot more pressure on them and they would have gotten off far fewer shots before hit by the Greek line.
I have been wondering since if they would have marched up with the spears raised to the vertical or shouldered, thus protecting the right arms, until about to engagte, then having the spears presented at the last minute.
Anyway, there is already talk of doing Plataea at the next Conference, or alternatively to doing something in August that year in Melbourne for the anniversary of Marathon. I'll certainly be at either - it was the most fun I've had in years.
Regards
Peter Mac Kinnon
hopefully Craig Gascoigne will post images soon. I have 1 or 2 if people are interested/
regards
Richard
hock: .I hope to join in with these chaps in around 3 years when i have my Hoplite kit finished . 8)
D ....but in the drill one, I don't think their method of closing up into close order/synaspismos is very likely ! ( they shuffle right and close up on the right marker)......Now imagine a typical Army of, say, 8,000 Hoplites formed up 8 deep. It has a frontage of 2,000 yards - almost a mile and a quarter with each man occupying 6 feet in 'natural/normal' order. To close up in this way would involve the left-hand man shuffling sideways for a thousand yards ! Worse, the Army has just halved it's frontage, perhaps in the face of the enemy and is now seriously outflanked on it's left.....