Phalanx system in Greek army

Phalanx refers to a close-order battle line of heavy infantry armed. It was a military formation used by the ancient Greeks from the 7th century BC to the 4th century BC consisting of a block of heavily armed infantry standing shoulder to shoulder in files several ranks deep. Phalanx was the common formation used by ancient Greek and Eastern armies throughout the Classical and Hellenistic periods.

The lochoi was the basic unit of the phalanx. In Athens, the lochos was led by a captain, and groups of lochoi combined to form one of ten regiments, or taxeis.

The phalanx was typically arranged in a rectangular shape, with the front line consisting of the most experienced and heavily armored soldiers, known as the "hoplite elite." The soldiers in the back ranks were typically less experienced and lightly armored.

In the classical period (ca 486 BC -323 BC), a Greek hoplite generally stood shoulder to shoulder in a formation eight men (sometimes twelve). He wore between thirty and fifty pounds of armor cushioned by a tunic of stiffened linen and a closed helmet that limited sight and sound.

Heavy infantry formed into a dense mass, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, chest to back. Usually between sixteen and thirty-two men deep and several hundred meters long. Rows one through five holding pikes (called sarissas) straight out in-front of them. These pikes were generally about fifteen to twenty feet long. The extreme length of the sarissa meant that up to five layers of pikes protruded ahead of the front man – allowing the phalanx to steamroll any opponent.

Each man protected both himself and partially his neighbor with his large circular shield, carried on his left arm. Moving in unison the phalanx could push and attack the enemy while minimizing each man's exposure.

The shield gave the phalanx its strength. A hoplite could shield his torso and overlap his neighbor’s shield to create a bronze wall not only to deflect enemy blows but to push the opponents back en masse.

During the classical era of Greek history, the phalanx was the dominant military tactic, employed by everyone from the Spartans to Alexander the Great.
Phalanx system in Greek army