The Importance of Elephants in the Hellenistic World

[Mulceber]

@ Moros - thanks, let me know what you think when you get a chance. Also, I checked my inbox and have responded.

Only quibble would be referring to the 2 most important aspects of cavalry as the shock of charge and the weapons carried by riders... the speed of movement would be important in itself in both battles and longer term movements.

Very true - although in that portion, I was referring more to their combat strengths, the ways in which they inflict the most damage on the enemy - if I ever do another draft, I should clarify that though.

So, I take it that the phalanx was not an effective defense against elephants?

I got the feeling from my readings that Phalanxes had somewhat mixed results against elephants - they would be thrown into disarray very quickly if charged from the rear or flank. Whether or not they'd be effective if charged from the front would depend, I think, on how experienced they were and how determined they were to hold formation against the elephants. It would certainly be challenging though. If formation was broken they were in deep trouble. Also, keep in mind that there was more to Hellenistic infantry than just the Phalanx - plenty of skirmishers, archers and spearmen in those armies. Such lighter infantry would probably fair distinctly worse in melee against elephants than phalanxes would. -M