phalanx
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.4|Sumerian phalanx-like formation , from detail of the victory stele of King Eannatum of Lagash over [[Umma, called the Stele of the Vultures]]
AI overview
A phalanx is a tight military formation where soldiers stand close together, often with overlapping shields and spears, as shown in ancient Sumerian warfare depicted on historical monuments. This formation was important because it provided soldiers with greater protection and allowed them to present a unified, coordinated fighting force against enemies.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
18 sectionsContents
- History
- Overview
- Othismos or "pushing"
- Shields
- Hoplite armament
- Phalangite armament
- Deployment and combat
- Phalanx composition
- Phalanx front and depth
- Stages of combat
- Tactics
- Weaknesses
- Classical decline and post-classical use
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|upright=1.4|Sumerian phalanx-like formation , from detail of the victory stele of King Eannatum of Lagash over [[Umma, called the Stele of the Vultures]]
The phalanx (IPA: /ˈfa.laŋks/; : phalanges or phalanxes) 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 today to describe the use of this formation in ancient Greek warfare, but ancient Greek writers used it more broadly to describe any massed infantry formation regardless of its equipment. In Greek texts, the phalanx may be deployed for battle, on the march, or even camped, thus describing the mass of infantry or cavalry that would deploy in line during battle. They marched forward as one entity.