Topic: what was the ancient battle really like?????

Bory · July 10th, 2005

Yes, the Greeks were like that, that's how the Macedonian Conqured them.

Never call a Macedonian a Greek and never call a Greek a Macedonian.

The Macedonian Phalanx was a very unique structure. First of all, evey last soldier in the Phalanx was a professional. They were not un organised militias trained to fight in war time. They were highy trained and disciplened professional soldiers trained to fight all the time.

Secondly, The Macedonian Phalanx was 48 ranks deep and x number wide. The first six ranks, held their sarissa (a 20 ft long spear) out infront of them, while the remaining ranks held their in the air.
If a soldier in the front rank was killed, the soldier behind would move up and tak his place, and this would continue throughout the formation.

This tactic worked so well, because the Phalnx would hold out long enough for the Companions to run in and cut the opposing flanks, while the Hypapsists would close in on the main enemy formation. Once the Enemy broke ranks, it would be a large scale butchering.

Another unit though that was unusual to Ancient tactics was the Theban Sacred Band. A 300 strong formation of soldiers that could fight, cut off from the main formations.
Their shields were designed to overlap the next persons shield, protecting them, and they would fight to the very last man.

They were completly destoyed by Alexander the Great's Charge at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, they were the second last Greek unit to be destroyed that day. The last was the Combined Greek Phalanx, that Alexander later surronded and attacked from the rear. Destroying the Bulk of the Greek armies, and letting Philip II to conquer Greece.

July 10th, 2005
Bory Centurion	Yes, the Greeks were like that, that's how the Macedonian Conqured them. Never call a Macedonian a Greek and never call a Greek a Macedonian. The Macedonian Phalanx was a very unique structure. First of all, evey last soldier in the Phalanx was a professional. They were not un organised militias trained to fight in war time. They were highy trained and disciplened professional soldiers trained to fight all the time. Secondly, The Macedonian Phalanx was 48 ranks deep and x number wide. The first six ranks, held their sarissa (a 20 ft long spear) out infront of them, while the remaining ranks held their in the air. If a soldier in the front rank was killed, the soldier behind would move up and tak his place, and this would continue throughout the formation. This tactic worked so well, because the Phalnx would hold out long enough for the Companions to run in and cut the opposing flanks, while the Hypapsists would close in on the main enemy formation. Once the Enemy broke ranks, it would be a large scale butchering. Another unit though that was unusual to Ancient tactics was the Theban Sacred Band. A 300 strong formation of soldiers that could fight, cut off from the main formations. Their shields were designed to overlap the next persons shield, protecting them, and they would fight to the very last man. They were completly destoyed by Alexander the Great's Charge at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, they were the second last Greek unit to be destroyed that day. The last was the Combined Greek Phalanx, that Alexander later surronded and attacked from the rear. Destroying the Bulk of the Greek armies, and letting Philip II to conquer Greece. __________________ "Even if I wished to surrender to you - and I don't - I am commanding Australian's who would cut my throat if I accepted your Terms" Colonel C Hore, Siege of Elands River, 1900 If You want to See the Future, Read a History Book