Sarissas and a phalanx' front line

**ziegenpeter** · 11-08-2009, 12:00

Hi fellow EB-fans!
I wonder if pike using formations, such as the diadochoi's main forces, when facing non pike enemies marched closer to them as they would when fighting other pike formations.
This would allow the first lines to attack enemies in the backlines while the pike backlines attack and hold off the enemies frontlines. I drew this beautiful pic, I hope it underlines my description

**Cute Wolf** · 11-08-2009, 14:14

lol.....

Of course yes.... they using the same tactics again and again, so it won't be a surprise when non-phalanx enemies (Romaioi, Pahlava, Sauro, Sweboz) finally pwnd em down....

**Apázlinemjó** · 11-08-2009, 14:46

And when the diadochos began to rely too much on phalanxes, they started to lose their battles.

**Ludens** · 11-08-2009, 16:13

I don't think we can reconstruct phalanx tactics in that much detail. For example, there is a theory that the front-rank would have used shorter spears so that assailants would have to face two or even three spearpoints at the same time. I've only read it in older sources though, so I am not sure if it is still accepted.

**ziegenpeter** · 11-08-2009, 17:20

Well I think this would be more dificult than what I thoght about, because when you regroup in terrain, you always need the guys with the shorter pikes to go in the front lines.
In the Ziegenpetersche Maneuver the pike front line just "skips" attacking the enemies front line and leaves them to the pikeman in the following rows.
When you have for example the first three lines of pikes attacking the first three lines* of an enemies formation and they can't reach the pike formatuion, because the Sarissas are still too long, DMG/sec. is much higher

.
You just have to trust that your buddies behind you will keep off the soldiers too close for your sarissa.

* Of course the idea of different numbered lines is not applicated.