Greek Hoplite Equipment

• What were hoplites?

  Hoplites were Greek infantry soldiers.
• What was a tunic?


  Tunics were made from cloth and protected the soldier from chaffing against his cuirass
• What was a cuirass?

  A breastplate made from either solid bronze or bronze scales, which protected the chest from attack. The cuirass stopped at th waist leaving the thighs and groin exposed. It was also not very flexible and very heavy, restricting free movement.
• What were greaves?

  Greaves were bronze shin armour, which protected shins from projectiles.
• Why did hoplites wear leather boots or sandals?

  Fields are uneven and covered in sharp stones. Battlefields are also covered with dropped or broken weapons, blood and bodies of fallen warriors. Solid footwear protects the soles of the feet from being cut, and provide some grip to help the soldier not fall over
• Why did hoplites wear bronze helmets?

  Protected the head from projectiles and blows from handheld weapons. Horsehair plumes were a common flourish, to intimidate the enemy by making the warrior seem taller.
• What was a hoplon?

  A hoplon was a type of ancient Greek shield with a wooden core, leather backing and bronze top. The Hoplon was used primarily for defence. In the phalanx, soldiers on the front row would lock their shields together to make a wall, which effectively protected them from enemy projectiles.

  • Sometimes the Hoplon had a leather curtain at the bottom to give

  some protection for the thighs against projectiles.

  • They would sometimes but not always be decorated – monsters were popular (to intimidate the enemy) as were symbol associated with the warrior’s city (to motivate them).
• Why would hoplites have 2.5-3m, iron or bronze spear?

  A hoplite’s spear would be held out in front of them in the phalanx formation. • This kept enemy infantry and cavalry at a distance – to charge into a forest of spears would mean death. • From a safe distance of around 2m, the hoplites would stab with their spear at the enemy, aiming to land a fatal blow.
• How could the butt on the end of the spear be used?

  The butt on the end gave the spear some balance and made it less tiring to wield. It could also be used offensively if the spear tip broke off. The butt also helped the spear to be stuck in the ground, angled upward in case of a cavalry attack.
• Why did Greek hoplites have an iron or bronze sword?

  A hoplite’s secondary weapon, their sword could be used if their spear broke, or if he was fighting out of a phalanx for some reason.