I was having an argument with my friend about the phalanx and I wanted to know if the phalanx was when soldiers made a wall of shields or a line of a pattern of one shield then one spear/sword man?
The front row made a wall of shields by over lapping them with the soldier next to them. They would push with the wall of shields. They would carry a sword and dory. The front row would often use their swords with the line behind them thrusting spears in between the shields. Each row pushed against the one in front. So being the front line sucked. When the phalanx was broken or flanked swords were drawn for the melee.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at February 25, 2017 6:00 PM MST