New hoplite book

[PMBardunias]

Given that we know well-trained troops could carry out this evolution, as the Spartans are said to have done at both Thermopylae (Herodotus) and Plataia (Plato),

I'm not sure that I agree that this evidence rises to the level of "we know". I have serious doubts that even Spartans as a mass could do this in the teeth of a battle. Perhaps some outrunners could, then come back to the massed ranks. In general it is hard to see what Spartans, being so much heavier and better formed than the Persians, would gain from risking their own disorder to cause disorder in already poorly ordered troops!

I well realise a different scenario at Sellasia. "Buts kicked" might be too strong: pushed downslope from a higher position yes; for the distance Plutarch has it, no.

You say Potato, I say but kicked, its all good. I actually don't have a problem with the distance is it was down slope. I think backing down a hill is a bit different psychologically that being pushed the same distance on the flat, and once they reached the bottom they rallied on their own formed men.