Classical Hoplite Training 2005-06

Thanks to students and assistants John Moulton, Teak Perrin, Dianne O’Donnell, Brad Zimmerman, Allen was able to spend a year training with the heavy shield (Aspis/Hoplon) and spear. The result was an article to come out this year -hopefully around the end of April—with the University of Dublin. The article will be part of an anthology on ancient warfare-email Allen and he will let you know the final publishing title— and is a basic technical treatise on the applications of the Greek Spear and Shield from the Classic Period as used by the Spartans. Readers whose interest may have been kindled by the release of the movie “The 300″ on the Battle of Thermopylae may find the article interesting. Allen also recommends the book “Gates of Fire” by Stephen Pressfield as an accurate historical- novel which comes closest to the spirit of the Hoplite experience (outside of training several hours a day with a heavy shield and spear!). Here are some stills from the article.

 

The Hoplite Experience

During September 24 – 27 of 1998, some students & I put together a reenactment of Hoplite warrior training & mock battle scene, entitled “The Ancient Greek Warrior Dance,” for Producer Joel Peddle & his Humanities Forum at the Atlanta Greek Festival.

We put on a total of 9 performances, preceded and followed by a powerful series of 18 lectures, presented by Joel Peddle on “The Context of the Ancient Greek Warrior.” Topics included: the Persian Wars, the role of the Pyrrhic Dance for communities and paideia, and the warrior as citizen, farmer and poet.

The Greek Battle Experience

“ Let each man hold – standing firm, biting his lip with his teeth, covering with his broad shield his breast and shoulders… Let each man, closing with the enemy…Set foot against foot, shield against shield, crest against crest, helmet.”
- Tyrtaeus

These performances of the “Ancient Greek Warrior Dance” at the Atlanta Greek Festival will take you back to the time of the warrior-poet, the Battle of Thermoplyea, and the clash of phalanxes on the plains of Marathon. Theis re-enactment of fully armored warriors (hoplites) will present the rituals, movements, and battle conditions of men who fought for their homelands during the 6th and 5th centuries before Christ. Armed with long spears, short swords, bronze helmets and shields, they advanced toward the enemy in close formation singing hymns and shouting war cries eleleu, eleleu. Nearing the enemy, they charged at the double in an unbroken line, presenting the opponent with a barricade of spears.

“In an instant the phalanx took on the look of a wild animal, bristling as it turns at bay.”
- Plutarch

As the phalanxes clashed “the spear-shaken air” would mix with the thunder of shields and groans as thefull weight of the ranks closed and pushed othismos from behind like a train of bronze. Victory belonged to the phalanxe which maintained close order during the massive push, thus setting the stage for individual combat.

The Warrior Dance Performance

Based on ancient Greek texts, ceramics and sculpture, these performances present three aspects of the Greek battle experience. The first action reconstructs military drills intended to perfect a wide array of massed battle techniques. The second solo pyrrhic dance demonstrates offensive and defensive positions chacteristic of individual combat. The third action features a re-enactment of the day of battle, including homage to the gods, the clash of phalanxes and weapon-to-weapon combat.

 

Videos

Hoplite shield

Allen teaching Hoplite shield and spear