Funny enough, one ancient source suggests it was an anti-missile measure, and that some arrows would be ‘caught’ by the mass of spear shafts pointed in the air and deflect/lose momentum. No clue if that’s actually viable or if it’s just ancient authors spouting off as they sometimes do, lol
They don’t hold the spear in its balance point, but close to one end. That puts a lot of pressure on the front fulcrum hand. Imagine holding a 2x4 by the last 2 feet of one end. It’s easier to hold it pointing up than it is to hold it pointing horizontal.
Same deal with jousting lances. Jousters only lower the lance as they are about to strike the target.
Also if your in the back rank, you might stab your friend in the front rank in the bum by accident. This sort of behaviour needs to wait until after the battle is won and there is a post-battle piss-up where you might accidentally kiss your bros just a lil bit, unless…
Also if your in the back rank, you might stab your friend in the front rank in the bum by accident. This sort of behaviour needs to wait until after the battle is won and there is a post-battle piss-up where you might accidentally kiss your bros just a lil bit, unless…
Furthermore, Arrian and Plutarch describe the occasion when Alexander and Hephaestion publicly identified themselves with the Homeric figures of Achilles and Patroclus. At the onset of the campaign in Asia, Alexander led a contingent of the army to visit Troy, scene of the events in his beloved Iliad. He encircled the tomb of Achilles with a garland and Hephaestion did the same with the tomb of Patroclus,[56] and they ran a race, naked, to honour their dead heroes.[57
“H-ha ha, what if we run a naked race to honor our favorite gay lovers of mythology and pretend we’re each one of them? Jk jk! … unless…?”
If your spear is not long enough to get out in front of the formation, that means you’re going to have a pointy spear at the back of one of your fellow soldiers. As well disciplined as the Romans were, maintaining a perfectly straight line while being attacked is a lot to ask for. So I imagine keeping the spears up until they’re needed is to reduce friendly casualties
Why don’t they keep all the spears pointed forward instead of some uselessly in the air? Are they stupid?
Funny enough, one ancient source suggests it was an anti-missile measure, and that some arrows would be ‘caught’ by the mass of spear shafts pointed in the air and deflect/lose momentum. No clue if that’s actually viable or if it’s just ancient authors spouting off as they sometimes do, lol
They don’t hold the spear in its balance point, but close to one end. That puts a lot of pressure on the front fulcrum hand. Imagine holding a 2x4 by the last 2 feet of one end. It’s easier to hold it pointing up than it is to hold it pointing horizontal.
Same deal with jousting lances. Jousters only lower the lance as they are about to strike the target.
Also if your in the back rank, you might stab your friend in the front rank in the bum by accident. This sort of behaviour needs to wait until after the battle is won and there is a post-battle piss-up where you might accidentally kiss your bros just a lil bit, unless…
“H-ha ha, what if we run a naked race to honor our favorite gay lovers of mythology and pretend we’re each one of them? Jk jk! … unless…?”
…and they were roommates!
Sounds like just guys being dudes, if you ask me!
If your spear is not long enough to get out in front of the formation, that means you’re going to have a pointy spear at the back of one of your fellow soldiers. As well disciplined as the Romans were, maintaining a perfectly straight line while being attacked is a lot to ask for. So I imagine keeping the spears up until they’re needed is to reduce friendly casualties
Small correction - the Romans never used the pike phalanx on a large scale. This was Greek/Macedonian.
The Romans liked big shields and small swords. 😎
And weighty javelins to fuck up the other side’s shields