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Ancient greek hoplite shield7/17/2023 ![]() It can even, in some contexts, be used to refer to a penis. It is often claimed that ὅπλον means “shield,” but it is actually an extremely vague term that literally just means “tool” or “piece of equipment.” This word can be used in Greek to refer to any kind of shield, armor, or weapon, but it can also refer to tools used for other things, like sailing a ship. The English word hoplite is derived from the Greek first-declension masculine noun ὁπλίτης ( hoplítēs), which is, in turn, derived from the Greek second-declension neuter noun ὅπλον ( hóplon). Unfortunately, despite being widely repeated, this claim is not true.ĪBOVE: Detail of the Chigi Vase, dated to the seventh century BC, depicting Greek hoplite warriors The name ‘hoplite’ comes from their shield which they called the ‘hoplon.’” “The main Greek soldier was the foot soldier called a ‘hoplite.’ Hoplites carried large shields and long spears. Likewise, an article on the website Ducksters titled “Ancient Greece: Soldiers and War” claims: They got their name because the shield that they carried was called a hoplon.” These warriors would carry long shields and spears. “The Greek soldier that was a foot soldier was called a hoplite. For instance, an article on the website History for Kids titled “Ancient Greek Warriors” claims: The assertion that Greek hoplites derive their name from their shields seems to be less common in works written for adults, but it is extremely widespread in works written for children. In reality, the word hoplon refers not only to the hoplite’s shield, but to all his equipment collectively. The most experienced hoplites were often placed on the right side of the phalanx, to counteract these problems.It is commonly stated that ancient Greek hoplites are named after the kind of large, round, wooden shield they carried, which was supposedly known as a hoplon. The weak spot on a phalanx was on the right, where the free arms were unprotected by shields. In battle, a phalanx would tend to drift to the right (as hoplites sought to keep behind the shield of their neighbour). At certain points, a command would be given to take a certain number of steps forward. The ranks behind them would support them with their spears and the mass of their shields gently pushing them, not to force them into the enemy but to keep them steady and in place. The first lines would stab at their opponents, at the same time try to keep in position. A phalanx tended to be 8 rows or more deep, each row with a leader, and an officer who kept order in the rear. The phalanx, and hence the armour, was trained to work as a team. The Lacedaemonian citizens (Sparta) were renowned for their lifelong combat training and almost mythical military prowess, while their greatest adversaries, the Athenians, were exempted from service only after the 60th year of their lives. They were expected to take part in any military campaign when they would be called for duty. ![]() In most Greek city-states, citizens got basic military training, serving in the standing army for a time. In later texts, the term hoplite is used to denote any armoured infantry, regardless of armament or ethnicity.Ī hoplite was usually a free citizen who got his own armour and weapons. The word " hoplite" comes from the type of the shield used by the soldiers. In a phalanx, each man's shield protected himself and also gave some protection to the right arm of the man on his left. They fought close together in what was called a phalanx formation. The shield has a curtain as a protection from arrowsĪ hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek city-states. A hoplite by Alkimachos, on an Attic red-figure vase, ~460 BC.
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