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Phalanx of Alexander the Great

The Phalanx was the greatest Formation of the Ancient world. The Macedonian phalanx was the reason why Alexander the Great was so great! His warriors would carry a shield that was only 24 inches wide. With that and a 18 to 21 foot pike in a over lapping one another forming a wall of pikes (long spear). The pike had a counter wait that had a sharp point to use as a back up, with such a long weapon the wood would offen break. The phalanx was normally consisted of all heavy armed units but Philip II did not think this was necessary, so instead of having heavily armored troops they were lightly armed. The word Phalanx was used by Homer to depick the mass amounts of troops in his novels.

The different Phalanx

Hoplite

Hoplite were waht the Spartians had. A hoplite was a very heavily armed individual with a "closed" helmet and full chest plate. They're shields were able to cover from there thigh to there neck. They also wear long shin pads and kilt for more ability to move much fast and be weighed down by heavy leggings. A closed helmet is just a helmet that covers more of the face with a bigger cheak plates. This armor was made out bronze, the shield was made of wood and coated with a thick layer of bronze. The Hoplite were citizen-soldiers, often these people were more soldiers than citizen. The most commenly talked about hoplite are the Spartians. The Spartians would often paint a enlarged animal on the shields to intimidate the enemy. The hoplite would carry an average length spear into battle.



Sarissa

Sarissa is the long pike that is used in this formation. this is the formation that Philip II used and then Alexander the Great used it to defeat the Persian Empire. this formation was made to stop calvary.

Weeknesses of the Phalanx!

The phalanx was one of the greatest military formations of the ancient world. But the phalanx had its weeknesses too. If not supported by other light infantry the phalanx is easy to out flank. It needed to be supported by lighter and quicker moving units to protect the rear.

The Phalanx was used by one side or the other in every war that the Greeks fought in. This shows that the phalanx was extremely effective. The Phalanx would advance at a slow walking speed witch helps intimidate the enemy. The Spartains and other armies would often sing a song when fighting off the enemy. It was a short simple hynm and they would stop singing when they started to move forward. Often times the word phalanx is used to discribe the formation in witch soldiers would stand in.

Bib

www.livius.org/pha-phd/phalanx/phalanx.html digilander.libero.it/tepec/falange.htm www.phalanx31.org/