A Storm of Spears by Matthew, Christopher -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Page Copyright Contents Acknowledgements List of Illustrations List of Tables List of Plates Abbreviations Foreword Preface Chapter 1: The Hoplite Spear

The head of the hoplite spear The sauroter The shaft of the hoplite spear The length of the hoplite spear The weight of the hoplite spear The balance of the hoplite spear

Chapter 2: Wielding the Hoplite Spear Chapter 3: Spears, Javelins and the Hoplite in Greek Art

The balance of the weapon The length of the weapon Depictions of the agkulē The overhead posture The angle of impact The themes of the illustrations The naked hoplite

Chapter 4: Bearing the Hoplite Panoply

(a) Body posture and the defensive positioning of the shield (b) Body posture and movement without restriction (c) Body posture and firm footing in combat (d) Body posture and conformation to the limitations of the phalanx (e) Body posture and natural movement of the weapon arm

Chapter 5: Repositioning the Spear in ‘Hoplite Drill’

The problems with the ‘left hand method’ The problems with the ‘throw and catch method’ The problems with the ‘stick in ground method’ Moving into the underarm position

Chapter 6: The Reach and Trajectory of Attacks made with the Hoplite Spear

Posture, reach and hoplite combat

Chapter 7: The ‘Kill Shot’ of Hoplite Combat

The protection provided by the panoply The available vision of the hoplite in combat The concept of the throat kill shot Artistic evidence of hoplite battle wounds Literary evidence of hoplite battle wounds Physical evidence of hoplite battle wounds Why aim at the chest?

Chapter 8: Endurance and Accuracy when Fighting with the Hoplite Spear

Testing accuracy and endurance The results – endurance The results – accuracy

Chapter 9: The Penetration Power of the Hoplite Spear

The width of the hoplite spearhead The thickness of hoplite armour The angle of impact and the curvature of the armour The weight of the hoplite spear The encumbrance of the panoply Hardness, brittleness and imperfections in the armour Padding, linings and clothing The effect of momentum The effect of fatigue

Chapter 10: The Use of the Sauroter as a Weapon

The use of the sauroter as an ancillary weapon Breaking the hoplite spear The offensive capabilities of a broken hoplite spear The use of the sauroter to attack backwards The use of the sauroter to dispatch a fallen opponent

Chapter 11: Conclusion: The Individual Hoplite Chapter 12: Phalanxes, Shield Walls and Other Formations

Deploying the phalanx The depth of the phalanx The interval of the phalanx The shield wall Other hoplite formations Moving the phalanx The ‘shift’ of the phalanx

Chapter 13: The Hoplite Battle: Contact, Othismos, Breakthrough and Rout

The literary basis of the othismos The physical basis of the othismos The deployment of Chabrias The panoply and the othismos The collision of loose-order formations The purpose of the ‘charge’ and the ‘push’ Phalanx depth and the othismos

Chapter 14: Conclusion: The Nature of Hoplite Combat Notes Bibliography Index Plates

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