Historical Question.

[Iraklis]

For some time now i was wondering how would soldiers in antiquity throw there javelins. Would they break rank to keep safe distance from each other? Would only the first line throw them? Was there some short of special training that alowed them to throw with closed ranks?
I had thrown an athletic type javelin a couple of times and it requires space to throw it with out injuring others or even your self, was the war javelin so diferent in design?

Thanks for any answer you can provide and sorry for typos.

[Macilrille]

I do not think anyone knows for certain. The two theories I subscribe to says that either it was only the first rank who threw and was handed more from behind. Or, more likely IMO, they would alternate ranks like the later muscets firing volleys (which was, BTW, invented by a Dutchman who had read ancient authors and was inspired by the desription of how the Romans threw them.). The difference being that a certain amount of momentum is necessary for the discharge of javelins and the rank moving back from throwing theirs might hinder the ones running forth to throw theirs.

[Iraklis]

Thanks Macilrille for fast answering, i was kind of leaning to such a posibility my self tho with out the apropriate knowledge making theorys 90% of the time leads to wrong results. Thanks for the info!

[Macilrille]

Maybe others have more up-to-date info, but that one is what I have read 6 years ago. Re-enactors may have proved or disproved them.

[Titus Marcellus Scato]

I think the first two ranks could throw them, but the two ranks would need to space themselves out, the first rank moving further forward before throwing than the second. Javelins were aimed upward so that they didn't fly past the heads of the men in the rank ahead. And I don't think the two ranks 'pulled back' after moving forward to throw their missiles - they stayed where they were to receive the enemy charge.

[Hannibal Khan the Great]

And I don't think the two ranks 'pulled back' after moving forward to throw their missiles - they stayed where they were to receive the enemy charge.

Well, if the troops were used mostly in melee anyway, they would stand and fight, but for example Akontistai would retreat. They are simply too light for melee.