The Phalanx, the Most Formidable Method of Attack in the Western World

The phalinx was the most formidable method of attack in its day. It spread throughout the mediterranean, finding its way to rome around the mid 500 b c. A phalanx was composed of a single line, eight to 16 men deep,. depending on the battlefield and number of hoplights available. As a rule of thumb, deeper was better for phalanxes, and there were accounts of phalanxes up to 50 men deep. Manders had to make hard choices, however, because the line had to be long enough to prevent any outflanking manoeuvre which meant certain death. So a balance was always sought between length and depth.