Hoplites: The Classical Greek Battle Experience

by Victor Davis Hanson

see also Romans

  Leonidas 97, 100, 103, 144, 151, 215

  Leosthenes 139

  Leotychidas 231–2, 235, 236–7

  Lesbos 244

  Leuctra 38, 51, 58, 80, 89, 94, 95, 99–100, 104, 108, 109, 118, 145–6, 148–9, 150, 164, 167, 168–9, 189, 215, 237, 244, 254–6

  light-armed 31, 84, 100, 115, 118, 122, 130–2, 223;

  see also gymnetes, psiloi (Index II)

  lion-monument 43–4, 102

  Locris 26, 45, 238

  Lucian 72

  Lucullus 53

  Lycurgus 103, 161

  Lycus 96

  Lydia 208

  Lykeios211

  Lysander 44, 48, 138, 140, 153

  Lysias 82, 247

  Lysicles 151

  Macedon, Macedonians 22, 26, 31, 39, 68–9, 72, 88, 97, 125, 142, 153, 190–2, 196, 244

  Machanidas 230

  Magi 203

  Makaria 215

  Mantineia 30, 88, 140, 184, 246;

  battle of 418 BC;

  34, 59, 80, 90–1, 98, 100–2, 104–5, 108, 118, 148, 150, 160, 232, 237, 244;

  battle of 362 BC, 33, 48, 89, 98, 116, 146, 149, 167, 168

  Mantitheus 108

  Marathon 21, 42, 78, 80, 87, 98, 134–5, 136, 138, 146, 149, 156, 169, 175, 204, 210–11, 225, 254

  Marathos 214

  Mardonius 88, 207, 220

  Masistius 73

  mass 35, 66–7, 79, 81, 100, 104, 128–30;

  see also othismos (Index II)

  Megara 113, 134, 175, 194, 209, 210

  Megistas 108

  Melos 5

  Menander 51

  mercenaries 30–1, 125, 132, 138–9, 142, 190–1, 209

  Messenia 54, 56, 105, 140, 213;

  First Messenian War 81, 159;

  Second Messenian War 15, 131, 159

  Methone 146

  middle-class 122, 135;

  see also zeugitae (Index II)

  middle-rank, of phalanx 76, 97, 254

  military historians 9–10, 253–6

  Miltiades 136, 138, 163, 164, 169

  Mimnermus 129

  mining 83, 184, 194–5

  missile-weapons 21–2, 28, 31, 81, 88, 91, 105–6, 178, 185, 189–92, 207

  missing, in battle 47–8, 50, 61

  Mnassipus 104

  monuments 42–3

  morale 104, 106–7

  Motya 195

  mountains 173, 178, 180

  Muses 224

  Mycalessus 5

  Myceneans 23, 36, 65–7, 70, 83, 173

  Mykonos 203

  Mytilene 104, 145

  Myronidas 149, 168

  Napoleon 104, 145

  Naxos 44

  Nearchus 113, 153

  Nemea 88, 90, 95, 98, 102, 108–9, 118

  Neon 206

  Neoptolemus 34

  Nereid Monument 147, 181–2, 195

  Nestor 126, 128, 157, 159

  Nicarchus 33

  Nicias 29, 50, 54, 61, 137, 141, 143, 151, 204

  Nisaea 134

  noncombatants 185

  Odysseus 137–9

  Oenophyta 107, 149

  old men, in battle 48, 69, 118

  Olpae 235

  Olympia 26, 113, 184, 195, 229, 230, 239, 243, 246

  Olynthus 146, 191

  omens 31;

  see also mantis (Index II)

  Onasander 57, 141, 166

  orders 97, 110, 117

  Paches 169

  pack-animals 174–5, 193

  Paean 90, 116, 123, 150, 169, 198, 239;

  see also war-cry

  Pagondas 90, 149

  Pallene 160, 163

  Panakton 175

  panhellenism 42–3, 44, 125, 244–6, 247

  panic 101, 104, 146;

  see also flight, Phobos, fear, cowardice

  panoply 53, 66–7, 81, 84, 174;

  damage to 229, 232, 244–5;

  fabrication of 66;

  price 77, 229;

  origins 130–1;

  plundering of 228, 249;

  weight 39, 63, 64–5, 78, 181;

  see also helmet, body-armor, shield, spear, sword

  Pantites 107

  paradoxes, of Greek warfare 6, 179– 86

  Paris 35

  patriotism 105

  Patrocles 53, 109, 213

  Pausanias, author 42–3, 60, 159, 244;

  general 48, 138, 149–50, 163, 207–8, 211, 238

  pay 144, 145, 165, 190

  Peisistratus 133

  Pellene 95

  Pelopidas 39, 59, 98, 102, 109, 142, 146, 168, 215

  Peloponnese 130, 209

  Peloponnesian War 5, 45, 60, 87, 137–8, 143, 180, 188, 195–6

  peltasts 22, 105, 116–17, 139, 141;

  see also light-armed troops

  Pentagon 79

  Pericles 8, 30, 58, 106, 136–7, 146

  Persephone 209, 215

  Persia, Persians 20–1, 29, 58, 60, 66, 72–3, 81, 88, 90, 96, 99, 100, 103, 135, 139, 145, 150, 167, 180, 203, 205, 213, 216, 224, 245–6

  phalangites 88

  phalanx, approach of 92–3;

  crash of 96–7;

  depth of 98–9, 104, 145;

  evolution and tactics of 15, 18, 20, 31, 64–84, 131–2, 159;

  files of 127–8, 147, 159;

  look of 90;

  proto- 126, 130;

  size 88, 105, 118, 140, 187;

  wings of 91, 97, 100

  Philip II, of Macedon 39, 43, 88, 102–3, 113, 190–2

  Philochorus 59

  Philomelus 45

  Philopoemen 72, 213, 230

  Phobos 200, 209

  Phocia 191

  Phocion 150, 224

  Phylarchus 213

  Phyle 89

  Pindar 93, 104, 107, 128, 158, 162

  Piraeus 28, 61, 84

  Plataea 5, 22, 32, 42–3, 58, 60, 73, 90, 95, 97, 99, 101–2, 103, 113, 135, 139, 149, 150, 156, 163, 180, 185–7, 195, 207–8, 211, 238

  Plato 29, 30, 52, 87, 93, 103, 126, 135, 144, 236, 246

  plundering 47, 116, 190, 230–1, 240

  Plutarch, author 13, 28, 39, 41, 43, 56, 59, 87–8, 90–1, 95, 99, 104, 106, 114, 145, 148, 166, 168–9, 194, 208, 216, 224;

  of Eretria 146

  poliorcetics 180, 188, 195–6

  Pollux 110, 112–13

  Polyaenus 61, 117, 168

  Polybius 72–3, 87, 99, 114, 206, 230

  Polynices 33–4, 42, 95, 208

  poor 5, 105

  Poseidon 140, 202

  prisoners 44, 103, 144

  psychotics 107;

  see also suicide

  pursuit 39, 101, 149

  push 71–2, 73–4, 83, 96–7, 98–9, 100, 160;

  see also othismos (Index II), mass

  Pylos 137, 146, 168, 235, 237, 242, 244, 249

  Pyrrhic Dance 29–30, 119;

  see also dance, hoplomachia (Index II)

  Pyrrhus 121, 123, 128, 141, 146, 185, 243–4, 249

  Pythia 229

  rain 176

  rank, preservation of 31, 95, 103;

  arrangement of 89, 108, 254–5;

  broken 29, 39;

  see also front-, middle-, rear-rank

  rear-rank 18, 69, 73, 76, 97–8, 99, 100, 254

  recruitment 89

  religion 42–3, 197–227;

  see also rituals

  reserves 19, 98, 118, 155

  retreat 47, 70, 95, 100, 116, 119, 178;

  see also flight

  Rhamnous 184

  Rhodes 126, 157, 192

  rigor mortis 53

  right wing 92, 134, 147;

  see phalanx

  Risikobereitschaft 122;

  see also courage, general

  rituals 8–9, 42–3, 44–5, 60, 84, 125, 156, 179–80, 188, 191–2, 197–227, 255

  "Road of the Towers" 175, 189, 194

  roads 177–80, 193–5

  Romans 72, 82–3, 112, 116, 118, 121
, 131, 140, 145, 166, 169, 180, 188, 192–3

  rot, of bodies 46–7, 48–53

  Sachkritik 9

  Sacred Band 39, 44, 102, 104, 107, 146, 168

  Sacred War, First 134

  sacrifice, of animals 58, 90, 107–8, 117, 150, 169, 197–222, 239;

  see also sphagia (Index II)

  Salamis 87, 116, 143, 166, 213–14, 216

  Samos 194

  Sarpedon 38

  scars, from battle 146, 235

  Scipio Africanus 121

  scutum 70

  Scythia 25, 36

  seer 143, 204–6;

  see also mantis (Index II)

  seigecraft, see poliorcetics

  Sellasia 151

  servants, see attendants

  shield 15–18, 21, 27, 38, 53–5, 91–3, 95–7, 99, 103, 105, 113, 115, 159, 195, 201, 233, 236, 245;

  abandonment of 18, 99, 100, 230– 1, 242;

  Boeotian 16;

  boss 17, 54– 5, 61, 105, 140, 212, 235,

  broken 33, 38;

  origins of 129–30;

  shape and contour 35, 64–78, 83, 184;

  weight 68–9, 78, 182;

  wall 95;

  see also aspis, hoplon, antilabe, porpax (Index II)

  shoving, see push

  Sicily 5, 24, 45, 103, 110, 113, 115, 141, 162–3, 237

  sickness 45

  Sicyon 54, 105, 133, 140

  signals 110, 115, 118

  silence 115

  Simonides 43, 108

  skeletons 59, 60, 102, 107;

  see also corpses

  skill 136–9

  sling 17, 191;

  see also missile-troops

  Socrates 30, 41, 100, 197

  Solon 41, 135, 229

  Solygeia 50, 97

  sophists 29, 123, 137–8, 158

  Sophocles 138

  sounds, in battle 94–5, 98, 110, 114, 118;

  see also war-cry, salpinx (Index II)

  Spartans, military practice of 5, 8, 20, 22, 48–9, 50–1, 101, 104–6, 114–15, 139–40, 146–50;

  customs and religion 55–6, 114–15, 133, 197–202, 209, 211, 231, 235;

  at Leuctra 38–9, 89;

  mirage 160;

  in Peloponnesian War 43, 96;

  at Plataea 80–2, 195, 207;

  at Thermopylae 98–9;

  in Tyrtaeus 15–16, 95, 123, 131;

  in Xenophon 27–30, 92–5, 96–7, 144

  Spartiates 140

  Spartolus 98

  spear 16–19, 20–1, 22, 31–2, 34, 57, 76, 78, 84, 89, 94–5, 96, 115–18, 165, 195, 217, 244;

  -butt 16, 22–3, 24–5, 31;

  carrying and grip on 30–1, 35, 89, 90–1, 108;

  destruction of 20, 23, 32–3, 38, 72–4, 95–7, 99;

  -head 23–4, 71–2, 73;

  -loop 19;

  range 92;

  -shaft 22– 3, 27, 71;

  throwing 20, 75, 88;

  two 19–20, 35–6;

  weight 78

  Sphacteria 5, 22, 59, 81, 96–7, 103, 105

  Sphodrias 80, 96, 108, 190, 194

  spoils, see also plundering, votives

  Stesilaus 135

  stones 21, 24, 33, 90, 106, 181, 195

  Strabo 23, 43, 68

  stratagem 145–6, 148, 149

  strategy 45, 64–5

  suffocation 39, 100

  suicide 107, 151, 169, 182

  sun, in battle 45, 78, 176–7

  surprise 149

  surrender 103

  Syracuse 55, 97, 115–16, 118, 143, 151, 163, 191, 193–4, 195, 205, 212

  sword 5, 16, 32, 57, 76, 84, 217–19;

  as secondary weapon 22, 25, 96–7;

  types of 26–8, 37, 65, 75–6, 94

  tactics 5–6, 7, 9, 19, 65–78, 103, 127–30

  Tamynae 150

  Tanagra 146

  Taurus 23

  "Tearless Battle" 90, 232

  teeth, in battle 99

  Tegea 193, 207

  Tegyra 145, 167

  Teiresias 214

  Teleutias 146

  temple 45, 228, 231, 248

  tent 115

  Ten Thousand 21, 108, 141, 237

  terrain 88–9, 173–80, 188–9, 234

  terror 104–5, 115;

  see also fear

  Thasos 194, 229–30

  Thebes, Thebans 20, 39, 43, 44, 48– 9, 59–60, 89–90, 96–7, 107, 116, 131, 136–7, 148–9, 185, 189, 214, 225, 229, 237, 239, 244, 247

  Themistocles 136, 146, 213–14, 216, 224, 226, 245;

  Decree of 163

  Theocritus 34–5

  Theopompos 87

  Theophrastus 23

  Thermon 244

  Thermopylae 43, 88, 97, 99, 107–8, 159, 215, 222

  Theseus 41, 59, 95, 200, 209

  Thespians 95, 109

  Thessaly 39, 47, 107, 208

  "Thessalian Trick" 34, 94

  thirst 193–4;

  see also sun

  Thirty Tyrants 21, 61, 88–9, 215

  Thracians 30, 141

  Thrasybulus 21

  Thrasyllus 226

  Three Hundred, Spartans at Thermopylae 43, 161

  Thucydides 9, 45, 55, 58, 61, 80, 88, 90, 94–5, 101, 105–6, 114, 125, 137–8, 140, 169, 205, 212, 220

  Thymbrara 141, 169–70

  Thyreae 161

  Timoleon 88, 110, 116

  Timotheus 137

  Tissaphernes 207

  tombs 60

  tools 23

  towers 181–3

  training 28–31, 100, 103;

  see also drill

  traitors 186–7, 196

  trampling 100

  Trasimene 101

  tribe 46–7, 126, 132–4, 162–3

  Trojans 25, 53, 116, 122, 140, 213;

  Trojan War 15, 19

  trophy 48–9, 50, 58, 103, 239–40

  truce 50–1, 61, 103

  trumpet 33, 90, 110–20, 204;

  see also salpinx (Index II)

  Trysa 183

  tunic 47, 56, 61–2, 140, 240–2;

  see also chiton

  tyrant 161

  Tyrtaeus 7, 10, 15–17, 66, 87, 92–5, 100, 106, 123, 127, 129–31, 132–3, 138, 153

  unarmed 33, 44, 184

  unburied 44–6, 50–2, 60–1

  unfit 30

  uniforms 140

  votives 62, 119, 228–49

  war-cry 9, 90–1;

  see also Paean, eleleu (Index II)

  wealthy, in battle 161;

  see also aristocrats

  weather 88

  wine, see alcohol

  women 150

  wood 71;

  types of for spear 22–3

  World War, First 79

  wounds 28, 32–4, 37, 44, 45, 102–3;

  accidental 71, 72–3;

  back 186;

  belly 33;

  bladder 32;

  bullocks 32;

  face 45;

  legs 33;

  lower body 92;

  neck 45;

  private parts 34;

  right-side 33;

  skull 32;

  thigh 32, 72, 92, 94;

  wounds, wounding of: Agesilaus 102, 148–9;

  Archidamus 50, 61, 168;

  Brasidas 168;

  Cleombrotus 94;

  Epameinondas 95, 146;

  Hippagretes 59, 96;

  Patrocles 109;

  Pelopidas 102;

  Philip II 102

  wrestling 99;

  see also "Thessalian Trick"

  Xenophon 4, 9, 21, 23, 25–8, 30, 51– 2, 80, 89–90, 92, 94–5, 95–6, 97–9, 100–1, 102–3, 107, 109, 115–17, 119, 124–5, 126, 137, 139, 141, 143, 148, 153, 197, 204, 207, 223

  youth 31, 89;

  see also ephebes

  Zeus 79, 183, 197, 202, 209, 239, 241, 249

  * * *

  II Index and Glossary of Greek Military Terms Italicized in the Text

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  agoge (Spartan system of military education) 179

  agon (the formalized struggle of hoplite battle) 146, 179, 188

  aiganee (throwing-loop on javelin) 36

  akontisma (spear-shaft) 23

  aloieseumen ("to thresh it out";

  fight it out in battle) 94

  anakletikon (the call for retreat) 116

  anaschomenos (holding the spear aloft) 92

  anastrophe (back-wheel movement of the phalanx) 104

  andreia (courage displayed in battle) 138

  antilabe (hand-grip of the hoplite shield) 17, 18, 65, 67, 80

  arete (recognized excellence on the battlefield) 122–3, 126, 128, 131, 136, 138–9

  aristeia (distinction for valor in battle;

  see arete and andreia) 143, 151, 166

  aspis (shield, see hoplon) 83

  astrateia (refusal to serve;

  cowardice in battle) 135

  axine (battle-ax;

  see pelekus) 25

  diabateria (rite of crossing borders) 202, 222–3

  dorudrepanon (spear-sickle) 24

  drepanon (sickle) 28

  eis doru (spear range) 91

  eleleu (war-cry) 91

  enomotarch (leader of an enomotia) 62, 117

  enomotia (smallest tactical unit of Spartan army) 89, 108, 117, 140

  enoplia (marching-songs) 160

  entaxis (light-armed intermingled in phalanx, see parentaxis) 159

  epibatai (marines) 81

  epikampe (forward bending movement of the phalanx) 104

  epilektoi (elite units) 131, 156, 160

  epitaphioi (rites or speeches over those fallen in battle) 123, 136, 139, 143

  ephoroi (Spartan "overseers") 51

  es cheiras (hand-to-hand) 91

  exeligmos (counter-march) 104

  gymnetes (light-armed soldier) 130– 1, 159

  heroon (shrine or tomb of hero) 60

  hippeis (knights) 91, 131, 148–9, 161

  hoplon (shield from which hoplite derived his name) 15, 129, 131, 159

  hoplomachia (art of fighting with arms) 29, 32–5, 37, 125, 139, 156, 164

  hyaspistai (shield-bearers) 102

  katalogos (muster-roll of hoplites) 46, 57, 61

  kopis (cleaver) 26

  lambdas (Spartan shield ensignia) 105, 140

  lipotaxia (abandonment of assigned rank in phalanx) 135

  lochagos (leader of a lochos) 62, 115, 117, 142–3

  lochos (a company of hoplites) 89, 115, 135, 140, 147

  machaera (scimitar) 26, 28, 29, 32

  machairion (small sabre) 27

  mantis (the seer who accompanied the phalanx) 204–5, 212, 216, 219, 223