Sarissophor

Sarissophores in the Macedonian battle order .
Drawing from the article “ History of Military Art ”
(“The Military Encyclopedia of Sytin ”; 1913)

Sarissophores in another Macedonian battle order.
Drawing from the article “ History of Military Art ”
(“The Military Encyclopedia of Sytin ”; 1913)

Sarissophore or sarisophore ^[1] ( Greek σαρισσοφόρος ) that is, bearing the sarissa - a foot warrior , who formed the basis of the Macedonian phalanx .

The name comes from a long peak - sarissa. The armament of the sarissophore consisted of the following components:

• long, up to 6 meters, peak - sarissa held with two hands
• a small round shield mounted on the forearm to hold the peak with both hands (small compared to the heavy hoplite shield)
• open lightweight helmet (compared to Corinthian )
• relatively light cuirass (compared to hoplites ), or linothorax ( armor from many layers of tarred fabric)
• short sword or mahira
• Leggings (with diadochi almost disappeared)

Like the hoplites, they were supported by peltasts and slingers , but, unlike the classical Greek phalanx , cavalry played a very important role in the Macedonian phalanx, and Alexander the Great gained many of his victories by combining the phalanx with the heavy cavalry - getaira .