New hoplite book

[Old Husker]

I think it's possible that the 'side-on' stance might have been confined to certain, specific circumstances, such as small unit combat, where the action didn't evolve all the way into othismos proper. This facing along with a defensive crouch might well have been instinctive and dominant unless overridden by the natural forces that irresistably compelled men into the tightly pressed, upright position necessary to survive and effectively apply othismos. It also seems reasonable (as previously suggested) that the last rank in a phalanx might have used an inclined shoulder push with left leg forward (and, perhaps, a grounded spear butt for even greater leverage) to impart maximum force on the rank immediately ahead within the overall othismos effort (we had discussed earlier how this was one way they could have transmited commands for coordinating a concerted push amid the noise and distraction of battle). Indeed, though not the technique applied by most of the hoplites in the phalanx, this approach might have been a key suppliment (both physically and for purposes of command and control) and thus at least a lesser consideration in aspis design. At any rate, such exceptions in stance wouldn't seem to conflict with your conclusion that an 'up-right' stance was required of everyone else in a proper phalanx action (something on which your data seems quite convincing). Existence of multiple techniques for varying circumstances might therefore combine with non-realistic artistic conventions to help explain some of the otherwise confusing depictions of and comments upon hoplite combat that we see in the ancient record. - Regards