Tactics, Warfare, Strategies, Weaponry, and Armament of the

Greeks

The Greeks at War

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QZy_RSbxEqU&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yFUiHf8Ca48&feature=related

Preview Questions:

Describe the full kit/equipment of the hoplite. How could the spirit of group cooperation and fighting in a phalanx affect ordinary society?

What political and or social effects might be encouraged or discouraged by regular training and shared risks?

What are the weaknesses of being a Hoplite?

Armament & Equipment

HopliteThebes

Hoplite Sparta

Hoplite (infantry)Note the-

shield,

helmet,

spear,

breastplate,

leg guards

What material are these made from?

How heavy do they look?

Comfort?

Effectiveness?

Breast and Back Plate

note the 2 different designs

Which helmet would you prefer? Why?

Do you think these helmets were effective?

Helmets

Obviously the hoplites wore two of these.

Why were they necessary?

What is a possible weakness of the design?

Greave (Leg Guards)

This was used partially as a counterweight (spear would be 8-12 feet), to dig into the ground, and if the tip broke they could use it as a secondary spear tip. Quite versatile actually.

Spear Butt

short swords (2-3 feet)

and perhaps a dagger

As well they had

These bullets would be thrown from a sling by the skirmishers prior to the main engagement

Do you think they would have been effective against Hoplite armour?

The Sling (Skirmishers)

Now imagine several 100 of these coming at

you all at once

The Greek Phalanx

Basic TacticsAs you can see they carried their spears in their right hands and their shields in their left

Consequently you relied on the guy on your right to protect you with his shield

Do you see why you depended on the guy on your right?

Classical Greek warfare was the purest form of battle. The antithesis of modern day notions that favor stealth capability or covert guerilla tactics, Greek warfare displayed the honesty of two armies facing each other head on in broad daylight

Battles were won and lost depending on the phalanx's ability to hold its formation.  Lined shoulder to shoulder with approximately sixty-five pounds of armor, limited vision and hearing, a hoplite's crucial duties required little tactical skill, only to push forward and keep the line together. 

Phalanx BasicsKey to it was maintaining a tight formation and not allowing anyone inside your ranks

the best guys were in the front and back rows (guys in front needed to be brave and the ones in back were the pushers)

initially the front row would hold their spears underhand and be jabbing at legs and groin, then they would switch grips and use an overhand and try to stab chest, shoulders, face and neck

Note the overhand grips

once the initial contact was made the back rows literally tried to push the front row through any soft spots in the enemy formation using their shields

The emotions and thoughts of an individual soldier at this time are unimaginable. The sights and sounds of battle offer only a glimpse of the battlefield experience. A cacophony of smashing bronze and breaking wood, the shrieks and moans of men, the continuing war cry; one can only imagine the horrible blood and gore at the front lines.

Imagine being in the front row of this encounter.

Once the enemy got inside your lines there were 2 options:

flee

have an organized retreat

first was most likely and usually meant many more casualties

Retreating

total annihilation was uncommon in Greek warfare due to limited effectiveness of cavalries.  The infantry was not suited to chase down fleeing enemies due to the weight of equipment.  At this point in history, not all Greek city-states had cavalries and if they did they were small, therefore the vulnerability of the fleeing enemies was not exploited (Lazenby, “The Killing Zone” 101). 

casualty rates amongst hoplites seem relatively low.  “It might be estimated that a phalanx might lose fifteen per cent of its strength, either through outright killing, death from wounds – typically brought on by peritonitis, following a penetration of the gut – or in the massacre which followed flight.” (Keegan ,The History of Warfare 251)

First the knowledge that retreating would mean more casualties

More importantly, the phalanx was organized by tribe, family group and community. Therefore, you were next to your brother, uncle, cousin, best friend, etc. If you retreated or did not maintain formation you were killing someone you knew and loved.

So what kept the Greeks in their formations?

Using what you have learned about the weapons and armament of the Greeks:

improve the design