Equipment (GREEK)

Section 2

what is the name of the formation Greeks use in battle

phalanx

list of Greek hoplite equipment

• tunic

• cuirass

• greaves

• boots/sandals

• helmet

• shield/hoplon

• spear

• sword

material of tunic

cloth

purpose of the tunic

sat next to soldiers skin to protect him from chafing against cuirass

what is a cuirass

breastplate

material of cuirass

solid bronze/several layers of linin glued together with bronze scales on top

purpose of the cuirass

protected from chest attack

negatives of the cuirass

• ended at waist leaving groin and thighs exposed; easily wounded here

• single piece and not very flexible; fine in phalanx but free movement hard

• heavy; potentially exhausting as hoplite

what are greaves

shin armour

material of greaves

bronze

what was the purpose of greaves

protected the shins from enemy projectiles; gave leg protection as shield didn’t cover this

negatives of greaves

thighs left unattended

material of boots/sandals

leather

purpose of boots/sandals

• protects the soles of the feet from being cut

• provides grip to help the soldier not fall over

why were boots/sandals needed

fields uneven and covered in sharp stones, dropped/broken weapons, blood and bodies of fallen

material of helmet

bronze

purpose of helmet

to protect head from projectiles and blows from handheld weapons like swords, spears and clubs

most common type of helmet

Corinthian style

why did some helmets have horsehair plumes

intimidated the enemy by making the warrior seem taller

negatives of helmet

• heavy so lacking manoeuvrability

• blocks peripheral vision, making it hard for them to see

• can’t twist or move head well

• if hit, then helmet would move, blocking eyesight and causing problems

when were Corinthian style helmets replaced

5th century BCE

what helmet type replaced the Corinthian

Pilos

positives of the Pilos helmet

• allowed to see in peripheral and no blind spots

• wouldn’t move and obstruct vision

negatives of Pilos helmet

• less protected

• less scary

Greek name for shield

hoplon

material of hoplon

wooden core, bronze top and leather backing

how was the hoplon held to the arm

leather thong and bronze handgrip

purpose of hoplon

• defence

what did soldiers do with the hoplon in the phalanx

• soldiers on front row lock their shields together to make a wall protecting them from projectiles

• would protect half of themselves and half of the person next to them

what would some hoplons have for extra protection

leather curtain at bottom to give some protection for thighs

what would hoplons be decorate with sometimes

• monsters to intimidate

• symbol associated with warriors city to motivate (e.g. lambda for Sparta)

how long was a spear

2.5-3m

spear material

wood pole, bronze tip and butt

purpose of spear

• held out in front of them in phalanx formation

• kept enemy infantry and cavalry at distance

• from safe distance, hoplites would stab with spear at enemy

purpose of the butt of the spear

• gave balance

• less tiring to wield

• use offensively if spear tip broke off

• helped spear to be stuck in ground angled upward in case of cavalry attack

material of sword

iron or bronze

when would a hoplite use the sword

ussed if spear broke or if fighting out of phalax

when would a hoplite fight out of phalanx

if it was broken or enemy were fleeing and chasing them down; would drop spear and use smaller lighter sword

what was the primary weapon of a hoplite

spear

secondary weapon of hoplite

sword

who provided armour of hoplites

themselves

what percentage of hoplites could afford the full hoplite panoply

30-50%

what did a hoplite panoply represent

expensive and a sign of middle classes

what did lack of soldiers will full armour mean

majority of Athenian soldiers couldn’t fight in phalanx

what percentage of soldiers had light armour and weaponry

50-70%

did lots of soldiers have a horse meaning they were part of cavalry and why

no because they were very expensive and only small proportion of Athenians wealthy enough to afford it

percentage of army that were hoplites

30-50%

equipment of a hoplite

hoplite panoply

use of hoplites

fighting in phalanx formation

percentage of lightly armoured soldiers

50-70%

equipment of lightly armoured soldier

• armour (ranged from everyday clothing to light cloth or leather armour)

• weapons (ranged from sword to arrows, javelins or stones and a slingshot

uses of lightly armoured soldiers

• harassing enemy with projectiles

• close-quarters fighting

• blocking the enemy advance

• holding high or uneven ground

percentage of cavalry

very small number

equipment of cavalry

horse and a spear

uses of cavalry

• attacking flank and rear of enemy phalanx

• frightening hoplite soldiers and encouraging them to break formation

• attacking infantry in loose formation

• targeting supply caravans

• carrying messages quickly

• scouting ahead when marching on campaign

who gave the Spartans their armour

the state

what types of soldiers did the Spartan army use

• lightly armoured soldiers

• hoplites

• cavalry

what class of people were usually the lightly armoured soldiers in Sparta

helots or perioikoi

prescribed sources for Greek equipment

• bronze helmet of corinthian type

• bronze hoplite figure

additional sources for greek equipment

• bronze figurine of a Spartan hoplite wearing a cloak

• Archilochus (poet)

date of bronze helmet of Corinthian type

c. 460BCE

location of bronze helmet source

found at Olympia (religious sanctuary to Zeus)

what inscription was on bronze helmet source

it is a spoil of victory for the Argives against the Corinthians and that the Argives dedicated it to Zeus

two features of bronze helmet source that could have assisted hoplite on battlefield

• would not cover the soldiers eyes and mouth to allow them to be able to see and breathe

• would cover their whole head all the way to their neck, defending them from any projectles

two features of bronze helmet source that could’ve hindered the wearer

• easily moveable meaning if the enemy moved the helmet even a little, the soldier would not be able to see

• slits for the eyes are also very restricted meaning soldiers cannot see in their peripheral

when was the bronze hoplite figure source from

sixth century BCE

location of bronze hoplite figure source

found in Sparta

what was the purpose of bronze statuettes like this

offerings to the gods

three pieces of equipment shown on the bronze statuette source and how they’re used in battle

• bronze helmet to protect against any blows to head

• shield (hoplon) to protect both half of himself and half of his comrade next to him

• greaves (shin armour) to protect the shin if anyone uses their sword against him

two aspects of the hoplite panoply visible on bronze statuette source and how it leaves the hoplite vulnerable

• greaves mean soldiers wouldn’t be able to bend down to defend themself and restricts their movement

• helmet would restrict his vision so he wouldn’t be able to see enemies advancing in his peripherals

uses of cloaks that Spartan soldiers sometimes wore

to hide any blood and give them the aura of invincibility; may also be for warmth