04-28-2010, 12:53 PM
Demetrios, I'm very glad to see this confirmed with a small group. I believe that hoplites formed at something just more than an aspis width of spacing. In fact the shield worked quite well as a measuring stick. When the actually engaged they were slightly overlapped- right over left forms the strongest shield wall, but every other shield forward is strong as well and attested to in sculpture. Of course it may have been much more random in actuality for any given phalanx.
The natural tendency to veer right does not negate the wish to be close to the man on your right, it simply means that there was more at play than Thukydides understood. The mechanics of many elements of hoplite combat were probably not conciously understood by the men doing them, ther is no need. For example I don't need to understand why its easier to balance on a bicycle when its moving than when it is stopped to ride a bike.
Thirty hoplites would be great. If you'd like some other ideas to test, feel free to email me and check out my blog above.
The natural tendency to veer right does not negate the wish to be close to the man on your right, it simply means that there was more at play than Thukydides understood. The mechanics of many elements of hoplite combat were probably not conciously understood by the men doing them, ther is no need. For example I don't need to understand why its easier to balance on a bicycle when its moving than when it is stopped to ride a bike.
Thirty hoplites would be great. If you'd like some other ideas to test, feel free to email me and check out my blog above.
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!"
MODERATOR: [url:2dqwu8yc]http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=4100[/url]
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!"
