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Hoplite Panoply
#1
I was wondering what exactly the Greek hoplite panoply consisted of? Also, what sword would a Spartan hoplite use? The xiphos or the makhaira? I assume the former, though the History Channel documentary depicts them with the latter(If my eyes do not deceive me... See the "reenactment" parts of part two)?

Thank you!
"There are some who call me... Tim..."

Sic vis pacem, para bellum

Exitus acta probat

Nemo saltat sobrius

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

Fortes Fortuna Aduvat

"The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one! Good odds for any Greek!"
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#2
Okay, that may be more of a question than you realize!

The hoplite's panoply, not to be sounding facetious, consisted of whatever he wore into battle! Spear and shield and usually helmet were typical, whatever the period. All other details varied greatly according to the timeframe, wealth, and above all FASHION. So you might want to get a little more specific with the date.

Greek words for the sword were very interchangeable, so although "xiphos" is often used today to refer to the short Spartan sword that came into use after the Persian War era, back then it simply meant "sword", as did "machaira". Again, the exact blade in use depends much on the era. Up through the Persian Wars, the regular hoplite sword, about 2 feet long in the blade, was the common sidearm (even for the Spartans). By the Peloponnesian War, the shorter sword is becoming common, and other cities are often copying the Spartan fashion.

Peter Connolly's "Greece and Rome at War" is a very good basic book for this, or pick up a couple of the Osprey books (remembering not to trust them TOO much!). There are a couple decent websites, such as my own:

http://www.larp.com/hoplite/

Read on! And Khaire!

Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#3
So, in short, a hoplite could turn up for battle with a hoplon, a spear, a loincloth, and a dagger, and he'd pass muster...?
"There are some who call me... Tim..."

Sic vis pacem, para bellum

Exitus acta probat

Nemo saltat sobrius

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

Fortes Fortuna Aduvat

"The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one! Good odds for any Greek!"
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#4
Quote:So, in short, a hoplite could turn up for battle with a hoplon, a spear, a loincloth, and a dagger, and he'd pass muster...?

It sounds as if you're being facetious, but, if you substitute "chiton" for "loincloth" and put the helmet back in, you'd be there - at a given date.
I'm inclined to think that the only time this would be regarded as a panoply would be in the Pelopponesian Wars and only in the latter part of those. Generally speaking, you couldn't class yourself as a hoplite in full panoply unless you had some form of body armour. If you didn't have same, you were an ekdromos (possibly still a kind of Hoplite, but a specialised form).

I'm beginning to think that the linothorax/helmet/shield combination would be the panoply most likely to "pass muster" for the widest period. Greaves are nice, if you can get them, but seem to have gone out of fashion for most Hoplites before the Pelopponesian War (somebody correct me if I'm wrong about this).

Even so, if we're talking about the panoply of a Hoplite of the Classical Age (and, indeed, what might be termed the Classic Hoplite Look) then I'd say helmet/shield/muscle cuirass/straight sword/spear and greaves.

As Matt pointed out, the question doesn't admit of simple answers!
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#5
Conceivably, but it would depend on his city's requirements and traditions. In the late Archaic and early Classical era, for example, hoplites were generally drawn from the classes of men who had enough money to afford shield, helmet, armor, and weapons. There may have been laws or regulations about what you had to bring with you, but that's not something I've studied. I understand that the Spartans were less concerned about what a man wore for armor, since his safety was his own concern, but they were very strict about the shield since that contributed to the safety of the whole line.

Now, from what I've seen the Greeks weren't much into "loincloths" and daggers were darn rare. But according to many later vase paintings, a hoplite with only a shield, a spear, and a smile might fit in just fine. Though a helmet of some sort was typical. Me, I'd add a tunic! In fact, I expect that "panoply" in its proper use didn't include clothing, that was just assumed to be "in addition" to the armor and weapons.

Mostly guesswork, sorry!

Matthew
Matthew Amt (Quintus)
Legio XX, USA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.larp.com/legioxx/">http://www.larp.com/legioxx/
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#6
The "archaic ideal" wanted the hoplite as best armored as possible 750B.C. to 600 B.C. Hoplites were at least minor nobility and came in small numbers.
King Pheidon of Argos (considered the founder of the hoplite phalanx) is reputed to have 5000 logadae-elite hoplites armed to the teeth. The other Argives had shield-helmet-spear minimum.
The Spartans by forcing the Messenians to work for them raised at least 6000 fully equiped and trained men. They also forced a high standard of equipment on the Perioikoi.
Every city state was making an effort to have 300 to 800 well equiped men.
The devastation of the Peloponessian war lowered the standards to Ekdromos even peltast for many. The "pass muster" rules that Paul mentioned were lowered too.
Xenophon metions "putting the better armed forward". That means that the lesser equiped would be rear rankers. The othismos needs the hoplon to be performed not the armor as Matt pointed out.
PANOPLOS is better translated to English as fully equiped man.
Kind regards
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#7
So then, hoplon, spear, tunic, armor, helmet, and a sword?

The period I'm most interested in is the time around the Peloponessian wars. The question then is what the armor was made of? I assume bronze for the wealthy, but does that go for weapons too?

Many thanks!
"There are some who call me... Tim..."

Sic vis pacem, para bellum

Exitus acta probat

Nemo saltat sobrius

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

Fortes Fortuna Aduvat

"The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one! Good odds for any Greek!"
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#8
Quote:So then, hoplon, spear, tunic, armor, helmet, and a sword?

The period I'm most interested in is the time around the Peloponessian wars. The question then is what the armor was made of? I assume bronze for the wealthy, but does that go for weapons too?

Definitely not. Iron weapons had already been in use for a considerable time (four centuries or so, I think). Body armour was in favour at the beginning of the conflict, but lost ground as it progressed. The Battle of Sphacteria, in which Spartan hoplites surrendered to light-armed troops, may have been a key moment in this process, although there have been suggestions that the Spartans were not as heavily-armed and armoured as their classification suggests and that this was partly the cause of their defeat; they didn't get enough protection from missile weapons. In any case, you could get away without body armour as a Spartan soldier of the late Peloponnesian Wars. In the earlier period, bronze muscle cuirasses are likely for the wealthiest/most important warriors, but linothorakes are likely to have been the predominant form, precisely because the move to wearing less or lighter armour had already begun, with them. The Pilos helmet, too, seems to be a manifestation of this process.
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#9
Tim,
Take a deep breath first. Now relax and decide what type of fighter you will reenact.
A hoplite armed with sword shield spear and dagger-"ekdromos type" is historically accurate from the classical period untill the hellenistic period.
Not every body had the funds for full panoply.
Marines started discarding armor first because the ship sides could act as a protective barrier.
Even in the late period of the Pelopenessian war there were heavily armed individuals. Remember weaponss were inherited.So you cannot discount the possibility late period hoplites wearing armor belonging to their ancestors.
That means that both fabric and metal armor could be available.

Hope I answered you querry.

Kind regards
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#10
Many thanks! My question has now been answered. Smile
"There are some who call me... Tim..."

Sic vis pacem, para bellum

Exitus acta probat

Nemo saltat sobrius

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori

Fortes Fortuna Aduvat

"The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one! Good odds for any Greek!"
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#11
4th centudt B.C Elian Epilektos.
Copyright Nikos Panos.
Enjoy
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#12
Good old Nikos! Still producing beautiful images.
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#13
Yep. It is going to be cover page for the magazine.
The Article is going to be about the Elite units shields. (shameless advertizing) :twisted:
I will have a lot to say about shields in the August event (hopefully)
Kind regards
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