Phalanx of Greek army

In the early stages of Greek warfare in the Archaic period, training was haphazard. There were no uniforms or insignia and as soon as the conflict was over the soldiers would return to their farms. By the fifth century B.C, the military might of Sparta provided a model for all other states to follow.

Over time, armies became more structured. They were spilt into separate units with a clear chain of command. In the classical period (ca 486 BC -323 BC), a Greek hoplite generally stood shoulder to shoulder in a formation eight men (sometimes twelve) deep called a phalanx. He wore between thirty and fifty pounds of armor cushioned by a tunic of stiffened linen and a closed helmet that limited sight and sound.

The lochoi was the basic unit of the phalanx. Phalanx was the common formation used by ancient Greek and Eastern armies throughout the Classical and Hellenistic periods.

Heavy infantry formed into a dense mass, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, chest to back. Usually between sixteen and thirty-two men deep and several hundred meters long.

Rows one through five holding pikes (called sarissas) straight out in-front of them. These pikes were generally about fifteen to twenty feet long.

Each man protected both himself and partially his neighbour with his large circular shield, carried on his left arm. Moving in unison the phalanx could push and attack the enemy while minimizing each man's exposure.

The shield gave the phalanx its strength. A hoplite could shield his torso and overlap his neighbour’s shield to create a bronze wall not only to deflect enemy blows but to push the opponents back en masse.

The successful and effectiveness of the phalanx formation depend on several factors:
◦ Soldiers had to be well trained and equipped with correct armour, shield and helmet (spear and sword)
◦ Soldiers had to be brave to hold the line. If anyone started to run away, the whole line would fall apart
◦ Intense training and preparation to perfect formation was required
Phalanx of Greek army