Ancient Greek Warfare: Strategies, Tactics, and Triumphs of a Legendary Era

By Fouad Sabry

What is Ancient Greek Warfare

Warfare occurred throughout the history of Ancient Greece, from the Greek Dark Ages onward. The Greek 'Dark Ages' drew to an end as a significant increase in population allowed urbanized culture to be restored, which led to the rise of the city-states (Poleis). These developments ushered in the period of Archaic Greece. They also restored the capability of organized warfare between these Poleis. The fractious nature of Ancient Greek society seems to have made continuous conflict on this larger scale inevitable.

How you will benefit

(I) Insights, and validations about the following topics:

Chapter 1: Ancient Greek warfare

Chapter 2: Hoplite

Chapter 3: Peloponnesian War

Chapter 4: Epaminondas

Chapter 5: Sacred Band of Thebes

Chapter 6: Corinthian War

Chapter 7: Battle of Coronea (394 BC)

Chapter 8: Battle of Mantinea (362 BC)

Chapter 9: Peltast

Chapter 10: Phalanx

(II) Answering the public top questions about ancient greek warfare.

Who this book is for

Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Ancient Greek Warfare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Billion Knowledgeable
• Release date: May 31, 2024

Book preview

Chapter 1: Ancient Greek warfare

Throughout the entirety of Ancient Greek history, from the Greek Dark Ages onward, warfare existed. The Greek 'Dark Ages' came to an end when a huge increase in population enabled the restoration of urbanized civilization, resulting in the establishment of the city-states (Poleis). These achievements marked the beginning of the Archaic period in Greece (800–480 BCE). They also revived these Poleis' capacity for organized combat (as opposed to small-scale raids to acquire livestock and grain, for example). The contentious nature of Ancient Greek society appears to have rendered this degree of perpetual strife inevitable.

With the emergence of city-states, a new kind of warfare emerged: the hoplite phalanx. Hoplites were spear- and shield-armed infantrymen equipped with armor. As depicted in the media, the phalanx consisted of warriors with shields linked together and spears pointing forward. The vase from Chigi, dated to approximately 650 B.C., is the oldest depiction of a hoplite in full war attire. As a result of this progression in warfare, most conflicts appear to have involved the clash of hoplite phalanxes from the warring city-states. Since troops were also citizens with other jobs, distance, season, and scale were restricted. Neither side could afford huge fatalities or prolonged campaigns, so it appears that hostilities were settled by a single decisive fight.

Due to the Greco-Persian Wars, which marked the beginning of Classical Greece (480–323 BC), the scope and magnitude of combat in Ancient Greece shifted. The vast troops of the Achaemenid Empire were essentially beyond the capacity of a single city-state. The eventual victory of the Greeks was the result of unprecedented alliances amongst numerous city-states. During this struggle, the growth of Athens and Sparta led directly to the Peloponnesian War, which saw the diversity of warfare. The focus moved to naval combat and attrition tactics, such as blockades and sieges. Ancient Greece fell under the Spartan hegemony after the Athenians were defeated in 404 B.C. and the Athenian-dominated Delian League was dissolved. The combined forces of Athens, Thebes, Corinth, and Argos rebelled against the Persian Empire, triggering the Corinthian War (395–387 BC). The war ended when Persia switched sides in exchange for the cities of Ionia and Spartan non-interference in Asia Minor. The Spartan hegemony lasted for another 16 years, when the Theban general Epaminondas decisively beat the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra (371).

The Thebans moved swiftly to establish their own empire over Greece. Insufficient manpower and resources caused Thebes to become overextended. The Theban hegemony terminated following the death of Epaminondas and the loss of manpower at the Battle of Mantinea. All of the Greek city-states were weakened and divided as a result of the ten years of Theban hegemony. The city-states of southern Greece were too feeble to withstand the ascent of the Macedonian kingdom. Using revolutionary strategies, King Philip II subjugated the majority of Greece, clearing the path for his son Alexander the Great to conquer the known world. It is commonly believed that the emergence of the Macedonian Kingdom marked the beginning of the Hellenistic period and the end of the characteristic hoplite fight in Ancient Greece.

With the establishment of the city-state, a new type of warfare and the appearance of the hoplite emerged.

The hoplite was a soldier, the essential aspect of Ancient Greek military.

The word hoplite (Greek ὁπλίτης, hoplitēs) derives from hoplon (ὅπλον, plural hopla, ὅπλα) meaning the arms carried by a hoplite Hoplites were the citizen-soldiers of the Ancient Greek City-states (except Spartans who were professional soldiers).

They were predominantly spearmen and battled in phalanx formation (see below).

Hoplite armor was prohibitively costly for the average civilian, Consequently, it was usually inherited from the soldier's father or a relative.

Alexander’s Macedonian army had spears called sarissas that were 18 feet long, significantly longer than the 6 to 9 foot Greek dory.

The hoplite's secondary weapon was the xiphos, A little sword used when a soldier's spear is broken or lost in battle.

The origins of the hoplite are unknown and the subject of considerable historical debate. This has traditionally been dated to the eighth century B.C. and attributed to Sparta, but more recent opinions imply a date closer to the seventh century B.C. The 'hoplite revolution' was certainly accomplished by roughly 650 B.C., as indicated by the Chigi vase. The most significant innovation in the evolution of the hoplite appears to have been the 1 m (3.3 ft) in diameter, wood-covered bronze shield (aspis) with a diameter of around 1 m (3.3 ft). Even though it was quite substantial, this shield was designed to be carried on the shoulder. Importantly, it enables an army to build a shield wall, an impenetrable mass of troops with shields. Men were also armed with metal greaves and a copper, leather, or stiff cloth armor. When coupled with the hoplite's primary weapon, a 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) spear (the doru), this provided both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Regardless of where it originated, the hoplite army design certainly expanded rapidly throughout Greece. The appealing attributes of the phalanx were likely its relative simplicity (enabling its deployment by a citizen militia), low fatality rate (crucial for small city-states), and inexpensive expense (enough for each hoplite to provide his own equipment). The Phalanx was also a source of political power due to the fact that men had to bring their own equipment to join the army.

Ancient Greek city-states created a military formation known as the phalanx, which consisted of shoulder-to-shoulder rows of hoplites. The Hoplites would lock their shields together, and the first few lines of troops would extend their spears over the shields of the first rank. Therefore, the Phalanx provided the enemy with a shield wall and a mass of spear points, making frontal attacks considerably more difficult. Additionally, it enabled a greater proportion of soldiers to be actively engaged in battle at any given time (rather than just those in the front rank).

The phalanx was the backbone of ancient Greek armies.

Because hoplites were all protected by their own shield and others’ shields and spears, They were relatively secure so long as the formation remained intact.

When advancing towards an opponent, one must be cautious, The phalanx would break into a sufficient run to generate momentum, but not so much that it would lose cohesion.

in which, as a general rule, The deeper phalanx nearly usually prevails, very few outliers recorded.

It is unsure exactly when the phalanx was created, however it is believed that the Argives created it during their early conflicts with the Spartans. The earliest portrayal of a hoplite in full war attire is seen on the chigi vase, which dates to perhaps 650 B.C. The hoplite was a citizen-soldier from the middle classes who was well-armed and armored. Every man was required to serve a minimum of two years in the army. Combating in a close phalanx formation maximized the effectiveness of his armor, huge shield, and long spear, presenting the enemy with a wall of armor and spear points. They were a formidable opponent.

At least throughout the Archaic Period, the fragmentary nature of Ancient Greece, which consisted of numerous contending city-states, increased the frequency of conflict but reduced the magnitude of battle. The city-states, unable to sustain professional armies, depended on their civilians to battle. As a result, the potential duration of campaigns was necessarily shortened, as citizens returned to their work (especially in the case of farmers). Consequently, campaigns would frequently be limited to summer. Possibly agreed upon by the protagonists, armies marched directly to their intended destination. Sparta was the exception to this rule, as each Spartiate was a trained soldier. Spartans instead relied on helots for agricultural and other civilian tasks.

If one side declined to engage in combat, the opposing side would retreat to the city, and the invaders would be forced to settle for ravaging the surrounding countryside due to the limited campaign season. Typically, when conflicts happened, they were planned and designed to be decisive. These conflicts were brief, bloody, and brutal, necessitating a high level of discipline. At least in the early classical period, hoplites were the principal force; light troops and cavalry often defended the flanks and engaged in skirmishing in support of the heavier infantry.

The hoplites excelled at shock combat. The two phalanxes would collide in an attempt to shatter the enemy's line as rapidly as possible. In its absence, a combat degraded into a pushing contest, with the men in the rear attempting to force their way through the enemy's front lines. However, important civilians and generals who led from the front were frequently killed. Thus, the outcome of the entire war may