What weapons & armor did hoplites use?
The arms and armor of a hoplite consisted primarily of a shield, helmet, greaves, breastplate, and spear, as seen in this photo of a modern re-enactor. Shield: The shield was the most important defensive armament. It was round in shape, concave, and made of wood.
What was the hoplites weapon of choice?
A hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek city-states. A hoplite’s main weapon was his spear. They fought close together in what was called a phalanx formation. In a phalanx, each man’s shield protected himself and also gave some protection to the right arm of the man on his left.
What did the hoplites carry?
The hoplite carried a large circular shield (hoplon or aspis) some 80 cm (30 in.) in diameter and weighing as much as 8 kg. This was made of wood or stiff leather, faced with bronze, and was held with the left arm placed through a central band (porpax) and gripped via a strap (antilabe) attached to the shield rim.
Did hoplites use swords?
Sword. As a secondary weapon, hoplites are known to have carried a short sword known as the xiphos which was made from iron or bronze depending on the era. This was used in the event of a broken spear, or if close melee combat was necessary.
What is a dory weapon?
The dory or doru (/ˈdɒruː/; Greek: δόρυ) is a spear that was the chief spear of hoplites (heavy infantry) in Ancient Greece. The word “dory” was first attested by Homer with the meanings of “wood” and “spear”. Homeric heroes hold two dorata (Greek: δόρατα, plural of δόρυ) (Il.
What is the hoplite revolution?
According to the theory of a hoplite revolution, these new hoplite-level men forced the aristocrats to share political power by threatening to refuse to fight and thereby cripple the community’s military defense.
What was the main weapon on a trireme?
The principal weapon of the trireme was the bronze-sheathed battering ram affixed to the prow which was used to sink enemy ships.
When did hoplite warfare end?
Demoralised, Xerxes returned to Asia Minor with much of his army, leaving his general Mardonius to campaign in Greece the following year (479 BC). However, a united Greek army of c. 40,000 hoplites decisively defeated Mardonius at the Battle of Plataea, effectively ending the invasion.
What is a hoplites spear called?
What is the Hoplite shield?
Hoplite shield (also known as hoplon or aspis) is a type of ancient shield, which was used by Ancient Greek soldiers called hoplites. Together with sword and spear, such shield was an essential part of warrior’s armament. Large concave shield was usually made of wood; some models had also bronze cover.
What is a hoplite and why is it important?
hoplite, heavily armed ancient Greek foot soldier whose function was to fight in close formation. Until his appearance, probably in the late 8th century bce, individual combat predominated in warfare.