Phalanx
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The phalanx was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar polearms tightly packed together. The term is used tod
Sumerian phalanx-like formation c. 2400 BC, from detail of the victory stele of King Eannatum of Lagash over Umma, called the Stele of the Vultures
A modern illustration of the Greek hoplites marching in a phalanx formation
Phalanx in a frieze on the tomb of Pericles, Dynast of Lycia (380–360 BC)
Greek phalanx against Achaemenid troops
Hoplite
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Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. Hoplite soldiers used the phalanx formation to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. Th
Phalanx
…of the term phalanx comes from Homer's "φάλαγξ", used in the Iliad, Book 6, line 6 (Τρώων ῥῆξε φάλαγγα, “He broke the Trojans’ phalanx”) to describe hoplites fighting in an organized battle line. Homer used the term to differentiate the formation-based combat from the individual duels so often found in his…
Hoplite, 5th century
Hoplites shown in two attack positions, with both an underhand and an overhand stance
Phalanx fighting on a black-figure amphora, c. 560 BC. The hoplite phalanx is a frequent subject in ancient Greek art.
Probable Spartan hoplite (Vix crater, c. 500 BC)