Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[Doug]

This was posted on the Ancmed list. Might be germain (sp) to
classifying mounted troops in Classical Warrior:

USE OF THE MACEDONIAN SARISSA IN THE TIME OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Rowland E Dickinson

Journal of Battlefield Technology VOL 3, NO 3, NOVEMBER 2000

Abstract. Debate exists on the use of the Macedonian sarissa at the time of
Alexander the Great. Although considered the weapon that enabled Alexander's
victories at the time of Polybius, the sarissa was considered to be an
unwieldy weapon that was useable only under the most ideal of conditions. In
this paper it is argued that, at the time of Alexander, the shorter sarissa
12 (Macedonian) cubits long (4.1m) was in use as it had greater
manoeuvrability than later longer versions. Using an engineering analysis of
the physical aspects of the each of the possible lengths of the sarissa, it
is concluded that the increase in length from 4.1m was sufficient to remove
the manoeuvrability of the sarissa-armed troops leading to the highly
restricted conditions for its use related to us by Polybius. By considering
tactical displays and individual combat it is shown that formations armed
with the shorter sarissa were very manoeuvrable. The use of the sarissa is
then considered in several incidents and major battles of Alexander's
campaigns. Finally the paper discusses the logic of extending the sarissa’s
length and analyses the results of doing so.

The article also discusses that ancient writers on the sarissa were
referring to the Macedonian cubit and not the Attic cubit.
--

Doug
The price of freedom is infernal vigilantes

"We will never disarm any American who seeks to protect his or her
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