New hoplite book

[PMBardunias]

If so, I can’t see Polybius’ account providing any evidence for it. Polybius describes Doson’s left as diphalaggian epallelon – a “double phalanx close one after the other” (or in close order). This doesn’t allow for one phalanx to be pushed backwards and then to rally on the rear one formed up someway down the hill. I might have misread what you actually mean though.

I don't believe the two macedonian formations were in contact, but as he says close in one after the other. This does not change when they are pushed back down the hill- not until the special 'double-phalanx in close order" is formed. Thus, they both go back down the hill, but the rear unit is not engaged in fighting. When the rear unit reached the flat, they made a stand, and the forward phalanx fell back onto them and stopped retreating. At this point there was probably a delay while the Spartans who had done enough 'winning" to normally be victorious attempted to redress their lines and the macedonians formed their double phalanx.

Now the Spartans were faced with a foe who by all rights should have routed, but had not, and was either coming on in some super-dense formation or at least not going anywhere. Cleomenes gamble to win on this flank before he was overwelmed by the Macedonian victors on his left had failed. All Antigonos needed was not lose, but he advanced anyway against a now shaken Spartan phalanx with no height advantage and this time chased them back to their fortifications, while his own right wing came to the attack as well.

This reconciles Polybius and Plutarch's accounts to me.