04-27-2010, 03:43 PM
Quote:did one experience this drift to the right side ?
I have not marched in a long line, but some reenactors that have tell me that there is a rightward creep to bayonette charges. One reason for this and for the hoplite drift comes from the body position of the men. If you hold your aspis up in front of you, you must twist your shoulders to the right. You are now advancing with your shoulders angled right and your hips straight ahead. It is only natural for your hips to want to swivel to match your shoulders. This I have tried, and without spotting on an object to hold your course, you will drift right every time.
As to the drift of hoplites, I think they not only drifted right, but closed up to the right, reducing the distance between hoplites. This makes sense of Thukydides famous quote and add to the overlap of the right wings over the opposite left. The result of two phalanxes drifting right and closing up right would largely be the same; overlapping on the left of each force. It would be difficult for a man on the ground to tell the difference without reference to landmarks.
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
