Sword vs. Spear

[Zaknafien]

right. most battles in antiquity (and indeed, throughout the medieval period too), were short clashes spread out over several hours, with many pauses and rests where the lines would taunt one another and muster up the courage to go at it again for a brief minute or two.

[geala]

I'm a bit shocked. Do you really believe in the theory that single rows of a Roman centuria changed place during a battle? I know a certain Italian reenactment group is showing this (and I know that many other groups are laughing about it, which of course does not mean much). I'm a firm believer in the clash-and-pause theory (you cannot fight for more than 5 to 15 minutes with a 10 kg shield etc.), but even in the pauses a change of rows could easily lead to disorder and disaster. While the change of units from and towards the battle line is mentioned so clearly in the ancient sources that it cannot be dismissed (and perhaps can also be explained now), I have not seen a source for the change of rows. Can you give me one?

[NeoSpartan]

I really wish I could man.... I was hoping some of you guys would know more about it.

The only 2 instances where I saw the 1st rows changing was in the History Channel when they did a special on Boudicca, and on the 1st episode of ROME of HBO. Naturally, these ARE NOT valid sources of historical information.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I'm a bit shocked. Do you really believe in the theory that single rows of a Roman centuria changed place during a battle? I know a certain Italian reenactment group is showing this (and I know that many other groups are laughing about it, which of course does not mean much). I'm a firm believer in the clash-and-pause theory (you cannot fight for more than 5 to 15 minutes with a 10 kg shield etc.), but even in the pauses a change of rows could easily lead to disorder and disaster. While the change of units from and towards the battle line is mentioned so clearly in the ancient sources that it cannot be dismissed (and perhaps can also be explained now), I have not seen a source for the change of rows. Can you give me one?

Check the previous page.

I posted on how it seems to have worked.

[geala]

I had read it. It still contains the change of the rows, so I wondered wether a special source for it exists. I don't think so.

It is a possible explanation, although my opinion is different.