Ancient Greek Hoplite Summary

Hoplites:

Hoplites

Hoplites were the stereotypical and dominant Greek soldiers in ancient Greece. Hoplites were Greek soldiers from the years of 700BCE-300BCE.[1] During the years of ~300 BCE, the Macedonian Phalanxes took precedence and replaced the Greek Hoplites. [2] According to David Sacks, Hoplite equipment was carried by a servant or slave until briefly before the battle due to its weight.[3] Hoplites began as part of citizen armies. In oligarchies, to be a citizen, they needed to have at least enough money to be a Hoplite (they had to buy their own armor) [4]. In Athenian democracy, men who could not afford to be a Hoplite were still citizens. Hoplites were recruited from middle-class Greek farmers with 5-10 acres of land.[5] Hoplites were important ancient warriors.

Athenian Versus Spartan Hoplites

Athenian hoplites fought differently than Spartan Hoplites; they also used different tactics. The Athenian hoplites' quality may have been questionable because 150 Spartan hoplites were able to route an Athenian hoplite force of over a 1:4 ratio. [6] Athenian military forces typically attacked their enemies with light-ranged missile units and then attacked with their hoplites. The Athenian military relied on its extremely effective navy, which gave it a large advantage. Spartan hoplites usually were extremely effective and strong in many battles; however, when they were ambushed, they sometimes were routed/defeated, which was shown at Olpae.[7] Spartan Hoplites were frequently viewed as the best in Greece; however, their military strategies weren’t always the most innovative. [8] Athenian Hoplites were inferior to Spartan Hoplites, but Athenian generals were more creative with tactics.

Hoplite Technology

The Greek Hoplite was equipped with heavy equipment. The Greek Hoplite had many pieces of equipment that defined it and made it different from other military units of the Greek world. The Greek Hoplite carried a Hoplon a special round Greek shield that Hoplites used as a wall, combining the shields together to block attacks. [9] The Hoplon was about 1 meter/3 ft across and weighed about 20 pounds. The Hoplon was also used to push enemy soldiers back in a giant wall; it also was combined with a spear and sword to kill enemy units.[10] Hoplites sometimes used a second spear/ had a second spear with them, as seen in Greek paintings. The spear was called a Sarissa, which was 2.7M/9ft long. Greeks also carried a 2ft long or 60 cm sword.[11] Greek soldiers sometimes used slings and rocks or bows and arrows to damage enemy soldiers and weaken them, making them weaker for the Hoplites to attack.[12] Missiles were pretty ineffective against the Hoplite Phalanx.[13]  The Hoplite had a bronze helmet, a bronze breastplate, bronze greaves, a cloth tunic, and a sword forged of iron.[14] All of the Hoplite's equipment weighs 50-70 pounds ( pretty heavy).[15] Some of the notable, extremely wealthy, or important Greeks wore iron or even gold armor.[16] Hoplites were important ancient warriors.

Bibliography:

Dahm, Murray. Athenian Hoplite vs. Spartan Hoplite: Peloponnesian War 431–404 BC. Illustrated by Adam Hook. Combat 53. London: Osprey Publishing, 2021.

Hanson, Victor Davis, ed. Hoplites: The Classical Greek Battle Experience. London: Routledge, 1991.

Sacks, David, and Oswyn Murray. Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World. New York: Facts on File, 1995.

Rodgers, Nigel. The Complete Illustrated History of Ancient Greece. New York: Sterling, 2013.

[1] David Sacks and Oswyn Murray, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World (New York: Facts on File, 1995), Pg. 117

[2] Sacks and Murray, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, Pg. 117

[3] Sacks and Murray, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, pg. 118

[4] Sacks and Murray, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, Pg. 118

[5] Nigel Rodgers, The Complete Illustrated History of Ancient Greece (New York: Sterling, 2013),  Pg. 204

[6] Murray Dahm, Athenian Hoplite vs. Spartan Hoplite: Peloponnesian War 431–404 BC, illus. Adam Hook, Combat 53 (London: Osprey Publishing, 2021), Pg. 71

[7] Dahm, Athenian Hoplite vs. Spartan Hoplite, Pg. 73

[8] Dahm, Athenian Hoplite vs. Spartan Hoplite, Pg. 74

[9] Victor Davis Hanson, ed., Hoplites: The Classical Greek Battle Experience (London: Routledge, 1991), Pg. 15

[10] Rodgers, Complete Illustrated History of Ancient Greece, Pg. 205

[11] Rodgers, Complete Illustrated History of Ancient Greece, Pg. 205

[12] Hanson, Hoplites, Pg. 17

[13] Hanson, Hoplites, Pg. 21

[14] Sacks and Murray, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, Pg. 118

[15] Sacks and Murray, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, Pg. 118

[16] Rodgers, Complete Illustrated History of Ancient Greece, Pg. 204