[split] Phalanx warfare: use of the spear

[Paul Bardunias]

Oh the joys of underhand grip in a phalanx!


At Marathon we used a varity of grips simultaneously.

I will tell you my experience with that. I almost lost an eye when the fellow in front used that high underhand grip.  The only way I would let men around me hold the spear and feel remotely comfortably is overhand with the front angled down  Couched is a second I would be ok with if I did not have to get too close to the front rank.  Didier, the fellow with the yellow blazon, is obviously going to kill the man behind him.  That is the other thing about overhand, there is a seamless progression from throwing in the archaic period to only stabbing in the classical- center to rear balanced spears.  Underhand cannot be done with a grip in the center as you can see.