Hoplites in a sentence

The Greek phalanx was comprised of about twenty thousand men with a force of roughly six thousand Tarentine hoplites who also contributed to the infantry battle line.

As a result, hoplites began wearing less armour, carrying shorter swords, and in general adapting for greater mobility; this led to the development of the ekdromos light hoplite.

As discussed above, hoplites were a solution to the armed clashes between independent city-states.

Athens sent out a sizable contingent (4,000 hoplites ), but upon its arrival, this force was dismissed by the Spartans, while those of all the other allies were permitted to remain.

Burn 252 The phalanx formation proved successful, because the hoplites had a long tradition in hand-to-hand combat, whereas the Persian soldiers were accustomed to a very different kind of conflict.

By contrast with hoplites, other contemporary infantry (e.

By forming a human wall to provide a powerful defensive armour, the Hoplites became invincible in the battlefield.

Classical main Hoplites fighting.

Fields (2007), p.15 The hoplites belonged to the middle social classes, so that they came immediately next to the trierarch in status aboard the ship.

Hanson (2006), p. 254 As the presence of too many heavily armed hoplites on deck tended to destabilize the ship, the epibatai were normally seated, only rising to carry out any boarding action.

Hoplites had customized armour, the shield was decorated with family or clan emblems, although in later years these were replaced by symbols or monograms of the city states.

Hoplites in the rows behind the lead would almost certainly have made overarm thrusts.

Individual hoplites carried their shields on their left arm, protecting not only themselves but also the soldier to the left.

Military service for hoplites lasted until the age of 40, and sometimes even until 60 years of age, depending on a man's physical ability to perform on the battlefield.

Tactically, hoplites were vulnerable to attacks by cavalry, and since the Persians had substantial numbers of cavalry, this made any offensive maneuver by the Athenians even more of a risk, and thus reinforced the defensive strategy of the Athenians.

The Hoplites were elite soldiers with much discipline and taught to be loyal and trustworthy.

The linothorax was the most popular type armour worn by the hoplites, since it was cost-effective and provided decent protection.

The most experienced hoplites were often placed on the right side of the phalanx, to counteract these problems.

The role of horsemen did however remain secondary to that of the hoplites or heavy infantry who comprised the main strength of the citizen levies of the various city states.

These large shields, designed for pushing ahead, were the most essential equipment for the hoplites. citation Hoplite.