In its heyday, soldiers in this formation were tightly packed but extremely disciplined. A wall of shields gave way only to ...

They fought primarily in a phalanx, a tightly packed shield and spear formation that might be several ranks deep and many soldiers wide. A highly successful 'war machine', the phalanx was used ...

They lined up in ranks and locked their shields together with just their spears pointing over the top. This formation was known as a ‘phalanx’. A hoplite had to pay for his armour himself ...

They lined up in ranks and locked their shields together with just their spears pointing over the top. This formation was known as a ‘phalanx’. A hoplite had to pay for his armour himself ...