[split] Phalanx warfare: use of the spear

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

I agree with all that.

Perhaps interlocked was not the right word, because I meant the shields of the opposing phalanxes. The shields of the last man farrer from us to the right and to the left are "touching", thus hear are two phalanxes already or at the point of contact.

By the way, we have the name "shield wall" in the sources. Herodotus uses it to describe the fence of spara of the Persians. He says that when that fell then the Persians sustained heavy casualties due to not having shields. A clear indication of how the Persians fought. It also indicates that it was not easy to beat the Persians unless the wall fell.