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It was a compact formation of 16 ranks, the spears of the first three ranks protruding. The rear ranks rested their spears on the shoulders of the ranks in front of them, and these plus small shields formed a defence against arrows fired at the phalanx. The phalanx was trained to wheel and reform in different directions, and was effectively a large battle tank.

This worked as long as it was phalanx fighting phalanx. But the Romans had learned to fight in open formation, each warrior having fighting space, and when they ran up against the phalanx, they manoeuvred around it, attacking it from all directions at once. The phalanx ceased to be an effective formation.

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What is an example sentence of phalanx?

The phalanx were the backbone of the Ancient Greek armies.As soon as the enemy saw the phalanx approach, they knew they would be defeated.


What is a Phalanx in ancient Greece?

A massed fighting formation of armoured infantry.


Why did ancient Rome decide to abandon the Greek phalanx battle formation?

Ancient Rome had originally fought as part of a phalanx similar to the Greek version. A evolution of change began when the Roams found out at the River Allia, this formation could be subject to an envelope tactic which enabled the attackers to penetrate the Roman flanks. In time the phalanx was therefore discarded into the legion.


What armies were in greece-?

A couple of the armies that were in Greece were the Athenians and the Persians.


What great ancient military leaders used the army formation called the phalanx?

Several tribes of ancient Israel, Rome, Greece, probably others.


Who used the fighting tactic known as the phalanx?

Phillip II True, but Alexander and his father were not the first or the only people to use the phalanx. Most Hellenistic (Greek) civilizations employed the phalanx formation among their troops.


How many men did the Greek phalanx have in its unit?

About 500 to 600 people were in a Phalanx.


How did Philip the first improve the phalanx system?

The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.The Romans eliminated the Greek phalanx and replaced it with the maniple, which was a looser, more mobile fighting unit.


What is the name of fighting formation greek?

The ancient Greeks are known for creating the Phalanx, if that's what you mean. The shields interlock to form a barrier.


What was Hoplites soilders jobs?

Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed as spearmen and fought in phalanx formation


What was the ancient Spartans war tactics?

Phalanx


Where is the phalanx located?

A phalanx is a type of military formation done by the ancient Greeks. It was almost impossible to get through.