What does the word sarissa mean?
long pike
A long pike used in the traditional Greek phalanx formation. noun. 3.
What is a sarissa And how did the Macedonian army use it?
The most distinctive weapon in the Macedonian army, the sarissa likely evolved from earlier hunting spears used to subdue wild boar. Consequently, his men wore lighter armor and carried smaller shields with straps, enabling them to deflect blows while freeing both hands to wield the lightweight sarissa.
How long is a Longspear?
about 8 to
Longspears range in length from about 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.5 meters), any spear longer than this is called a pike in the classification system described in pole arms.
How did the sarissa work?
It had a sharp iron head shaped like a leaf and a bronze butt-spike, which could be anchored in the ground to stop charges by the enemy. The spike was sharpened well enough to pierce an enemy shield. The bronze material of the butt-spike prevented it from rusting.
What does sarissa mean in Greek?
pike
The sarisa or sarissa (Greek: σάρισα) was a long spear or pike about 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) in length. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in his Macedonian phalanxes as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter.
How long is a sword?
Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimeter (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately 700 to 900 grams (11⁄2 to 2 pounds).
How heavy is a sarissa?
The sarissa, made of tough and resilient cornel wood, was very heavy for a spear, weighing approximately 5.5 kg (12 lb) to 6.5 kg (14 lb).
What happened at the Battle of Gaugamela?
1, 331 bc) battle in which Alexander the Great completed his conquest of Darius III’s Persian Empire. It was an extraordinary victory achieved against a numerically superior army on ground chosen by the Persians. As at Issus, the aggression of the Macedonian cavalry led by Alexander carried the day.
How big was the sarissa in ancient Greece?
Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Sarissa. The sarissa or sarisa was a 4 to 7 metre long spear used in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic warfare. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in the traditional phalanxes of Philip II of Macedon as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter.
What was the origin of the spear sarissa?
Origin: From σάρισσα. The sarissa or sarisa was a 4 to 7 metre long spear used in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic warfare. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in the traditional phalanxes of Philip II of Macedon as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter.
What was the role of Sarissa in the Persian War?
The sarissa-wielding phalanxes were vital in every early battle, including the pivotal battle of Gaugamela where the Persian king’s scythe chariots were utterly destroyed by the phalanx, supported by the combined use of companion cavalry and peltasts (javelineers).
How is the sarissa useless as a weapon?
However, outside the tight formation of the Phalanx the sarissa was useless as a weapon and a hindrance on the march. Complicated training ensured that the phalanx wielded their sarissas in unison, swinging them vertically to wheel about, then lowering them to the horizontal.
