Following on from the release of the Ancient Greek Hoplites and Spartans plastic boxed sets are these linen and bronze-armoured soldiers from the Classical period.
The hoplite phalanx of the Classical periods in Greece (approx. 750-350 BCE) was a formation in which the hoplites would line up in close order ranks. Shields locked together the first few ranks of soldiers would project their spears out over the first rank therefore presenting a shield wall and a mass of spear points to the enemy, making frontal assaults much more difficult. It also allowed a higher proportion of the soldiers to be actively engaged in combat at a given time (rather than just those in the front rank).
The phalanx would break into a run, when advancing towards an enemy sufficient enough to create momentum but not too much as to lose cohesion. The two opposing sides would collide viciously, possibly terrifying many of the hoplites of the front row. Battle would then rely on the valour of the men in the front line; whilst those in the rear maintained forward pressure on the front ranks with their shields.
When in combat, the whole formation would consistently press forward trying to break the enemy formation; thus when two phalanx formations engaged, the struggle essentially became a pushing match, in which, as a rule, the deeper phalanx would almost always win, with few recorded exceptions.
Available on our store now!
Don’t forget the newly released metal miniatures which would make ideal support for the plastic Hoplites! We have Greek Psiloi, Greek Slingers, Cretan Archers and Thessalian Light Cavalry. Plenty more on the way too!
