Hello again. Sorry, for not putting up a post in so long but
a lot has been happening. Currently I am writing a paper about the battle of Thermopylae,
one of the most important battles of the western world. Here is small excerpt
of it telling about the equipment used by the Greeks against the Persians
The backbone of the
Greek army was the heavy infantrymen called a “hoplite”. The hoplite was
typically armored with a bronze or leather (lamalar) cuirass that covered both
the back and the front. The hoplite also wore a Corinthian helmet that covered
the whole head and had small eye holes formed into it. Lastly, the hoplite had a large round shield
called a “hoplon” where their names were derived from. The hoplon was about three to four feet in
diameter, wood, with a bronze layer covering the outside. The most important
thing about the hoplon was the Argive grip on the inside. Traditional shields had
one handgrip directly in the center but the Argive grip moved the handgrip to
the right edge of the shield with a leather strap on the left side that the
hoplite could slide his arm through.
This was an extremely important military advance as it allowed greater
maneuverability with the shield and a lot more force could be applied to block a blow. In addition, the shield could be thicker to provide more cover with
the extra weight resting further up the arm. All of this provided the hoplite
with massive protection and a hit to the eye was about the only deadly wound
Xerxes archers could inflict
For armament, the Hoplite
carried a seven-foot long spear called a dory. This spear was typically made of
ash wood with a bronze or iron tip that was some four inches wide and six to
eight inches long. This spear was the hoplites main weapon and he would use it
much like an extra-long sword for slashing and stabbing. If his spear broke, he
would draw his Korbo a short sword some 24 inches long made of bronze. This sword
was designed to deliver a powerful stab to the chest of an opponent killing or
at least immobilizing him.
The Persian light infantry
on the other hand wore no armor and carried only wicker shields of woven reeds.
For weapons, they carried short swords and javelins (small wooden spears without
metal tips). Overall the Persian outnumbered the Greeks but the Greeks out
equipped the Persians.
Bear
