How did Greek hoplites fight?

Hoplites were the citizen-soldiers of the Ancient Greek City-states (except Spartans who were professional soldiers). They were primarily armed as spear-men and fought in a phalanx (see below).

What did Greek hoplites wear?

A Greek foot soldier was called a hoplite. He wore a linen shirt with metal armour plates on the shoulders. A bronze breastplate covered his chest and stomach, and greaves (shin guards) covered his legs. He wore a bronze helmet with a tall crest on his head.

What weapons did hoplites use?

Weapons & Armour The principal weapons of a hoplite infantryman were a long ash wood spear (doru) and a short sword (xiphos). The spear measured on average 2.5 metres (8 ft.) in length and was fitted with a bronze or iron blade and a four-sided end spike (sauroter).

Did Viking helmets have plumes?

The idea that Vikings had horns, or sometimes feathers, on their helmets like on the statue above, is one of the most popular misconceptions that people have about them. Despite this lack of evidence, the myth of the horned helmet continues.

Why did Roman soldier helmets have brushes?

The Romans were very keen on hygiene and rather vain. Soldiers liked to look their best at all times and would brush themselves down before and after battle.have a brush on their helmet made it readily available.

Who created the Corinthian helmet?

This Corinthian helmet, beaten from a single sheet of bronze, is of the type developed in Greece in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Many variations of this style of helmet were developed by the ancient city states of Greece and by the 5th century were also adopted by settlements in Italy.

Who wore helmets with plumes?

Galea (helmet) Some of the helmets used by legionaries had a crest holder. The crests were usually made of plumes or horse hair.

Why did hoplites wear plumes on their helmets?

With the passage of time and fueled by increased monetary means, some of the hoplites flaunted plumes made from dyed horsetails on their crests, along with intricate carvings on the helms, thereby projecting a sense of elitism (often associated with the Corinthian helmet). Italo-Corinthian Helmet, worn as a cap rather than a full helm.

What are the Greek features of the hoplite?

Perhaps the most striking and distinctively Greek feature of the Hoplite was his helmet crest! Tall and imposing, these crests served no practical or military purpose. They were used to add height to the Hoplite and intimidate his enemies.

Why did Spartan helmets have 3 crests on them?

For example, Lamachus, the Athenian general who took part in the Peloponnesian War, embellished his helmet with three crests and two plumes (as mentioned by Nicholas Sekunda in the Greek Hoplite). Interestingly, the famed Spartan crimson cloaks were also adopted primarily because of their visual predominance.

What’s the difference between a hoplite and a Chalcidian?

Right: One Hoplitewith a Lotusstyle helmet sporting a J-hooked crest, while the second Hoplitehas an open faced helmet, possibly a Chalcidianstyle, also with a J-hook crest ​Below left: J-hooked crested Hoplite battling a Scythian