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The '''Hoplites ''' were [[Greek ]] heavy Infantry during the period around 500-300 BC. They wore full-face helmets probably made of [[bronze ]] and wielded a heavy shield of wood covered in bronze. Their preferred weapon was a [[spear]], and a short sword as a backup weapon. In battle they often used the phalanx formation, which was essentialy a wall of overlapping shields and spears and they moved as a cohesive unit. The name derives from ''Hoplon'', the name of their shields[[shield]]s.

Traditionally hoplites were not professional soldiers[[soldier]]s, but often men of ordinary professions. They would purchase their own armor, which could lie unused for years, and the quality of the armour armor would reflect the material wealth of the bearer. They would be summoned to fight in the event of their city going to war. Fighting against other hoplites was often dangerous and their spears would often splinter on bronze shields or breastplates, but against lighter troops it was a different matter, especially against the Persian army which contained no heavy infantry or armour to speak of. In the case of the Battle of Marathon, due to their thick bronze armour armor the Athenians often crushed the Persian troops to death.

Possibly the most renowned hoplites were those of the city of [[Sparta ]] in the south of Greece, who famously wore scarlet red capes. Trained from birth these warriors were professionals, rather than the levied troops of their fellow greek Grecian cities. They were famous for their courage and their skill, but could often commit acts we would today consider atrocities. Their most famous hour was arguably the [[Battle of Thermopylae]]. The terrain of Thermopylae suited the phalanx formation perfectly, as the narrow confines of the pass meant that the Persian[[Persia]]n's superior numbers could not be brought to bear, not could the vulnerable flanks of the phalanx be exploited by the Persian cavalry.

The phalanx as a formation was replaced by the legion, which was considerably more flexible and arguably was the reason behind the Romans[[Roman]]s' military success.

[[Category:MilitaryHistory]]