Soldiers and War in Ancient Greece

Soldiers and War in Ancient Greece

Learn about the soldiers and war during the civilization of Ancient Greece, including weapons, who joined the army, hoplites, phalanxes, the army of Sparta, fighting at sea, and facts

Soldiers and War in Ancient Greece

Overview

The city-states of ancient Greece engaged in frequent warfare. Occasionally, city-states would band together to wage protracted battles against one another. It was uncommon for the Greek city-states to band together to combat a common foe, like the Persians in the Persian Wars.

Who were the soldiers?

In a Greek city-state, it was expected of every man to serve in the armed forces. These were mostly landowners or business owners defending their properties rather than full-time soldiers.

What weapons and armor did they have?

Every Greek warrior was required to supply his own weapons and armor. More money is usually translated into better weaponry and armor for the soldier. A complete piece of armor consisted of a helmet, greaves that covered the shins, a bronze breastplate, and a shield. The majority of warriors carried a short sword called a xiphos and a long spear called a doru.

A complete set of weapons and armor may weigh well over sixty pounds. The shield by itself can weigh thirty pounds. The shield was regarded as the most crucial component of an armored soldier. It was regarded as dishonor to drop your shield in combat. According to legend, the mothers of Spartans advised their sons to come home from war “with their shield or on it.” Because deceased troops were frequently carried on their shields, by “on it” they meant dead.

Hoplites

The main Greek soldier was the foot soldier called a “hoplite.” Hoplites carried large shields and long spears. The name “hoplite” comes from their shield, which they called the “hoplon.”

Phalanx

The hoplites fought in a battle formation called the “phalanx.” In the phalanx, soldiers would stand side by side, overlapping their shields, to make a wall of protection. Then they would march forward, using their spears, to attack their opponents. There were generally several rows of soldiers. The soldiers in the back rows would brace the soldiers in front of them and also keep them moving forward.

The Army of Sparta

The most famous and fiercest warriors of ancient Greece were the Spartans. The Spartans were a warrior society. Every man was trained to be a soldier from the time he was a boy. Each soldier went through rigorous bootcamp training. Spartan men were expected to train as soldiers and fight until they were sixty years old.

Fighting at Sea

Living along the coast of the Aegean Sea, the Greeks became experts at building ships. One of the main ships used for battle was called the trireme. The trireme had three banks of oars on each side, allowing up to 170 rowers to power the ship. This made the trireme very fast in battle.

The main weapon on a Greek ship was a bronze prow at the front of the ship. It was used like a battering ram. Sailors would ram the prow into the side of an enemy ship, causing it to sink.

Facts About the Soldiers and War of Ancient Greece

• Greek soldiers sometimes decorated their shields. A common symbol put on the shields of the soldiers of Athens was a little owl, which represented the goddess Athena.
• The Greeks also used archers and javelin throwers (called “peltasts”).
• When two phalanxes came together in battle, the goal was to break up the enemy’s phalanx. The battle became somewhat of a pushing match, where the first phalanx to break generally lost the battle.
• Philip II of Macedon introduced a longer spear called the “sarissa.” It was up to 20 feet long and weighed around 14 pounds.

Read also: Technology and Science in Ancient Greece