Question of the Hoplite

[NeoSpartan]

How about this?

Try to fight with a hoplon shield that goes from shoulder to mid thight. Inside the left of ur hoplon is another guy with another hoplon overlapping urs. And then u are partianly inside the left side of another guy's hoplon. With ur hoplon overlapping his.

Behind you is a guy pressing your back with his shield, in total you have the weight of 7 men pressing on u if you are in ther 1st rank, 6 if ur in the 2nd rank, and so forth. Then all u charge, or walk fast, towards another group of men formed in the same manner.

So, now u have 7 men pushing u forward (ur pushing forward too) and u have 8 men pushing you back. TELL ME HOW IN WORLD ARE YOU GOING TO HOLD, WEILD, POINT, AND TRUST A 7'-8' SPEAR UNDER HAND?????

u ain't!

The only way to hold, weild, point, trust such a weapon in those tight confindments is overheand.

Even in a loose formation, you have more control of a spear if you hold it overhead. Underhand will give you a more powerful forward thrust, and a 30 degree thrust to ur right (if ur right handed). Thats it, any other direction you have to move ur entire body.

For those who cant hold 5+pound weight overhead with one hand (remember you can move ur shoulder around to shift the effort to other muscles) for 15 mins.... I think thats an hint that you need to start lifting.

Hell, the hoplon shield was about 20-30 pounds, now count the armor, helment, sword, and spear! With all of this wieght, these men FOUGHT!. AND, today the weight carried by soldiers can be up to 100lbs, sometimes more, and YES they have to fight with it too.