Ancient Greek Warfare

Many consider Classical Greek warfare the purest from of battle because it is rooted deeply in morals and values. Ideology, peer pressure, and commitment are just a few aspects important to the Greek soldier. Battles were won or lost depending on the strength to hold formation and the ability to not only protect yourself but your neighbor. Unity and camaraderie were the key to holding the phalanx together and evidently, winning the war. Being surrounded …

…was a huge part of society and fighting in wars earned a great deal of respect for an individual himself, and for his family. “Like so much of their art and literature, the Greek manner of battle was a paradox of the highest order a deliberate attempt to harness, to modulate, and hence amplify if not sanctify the wild desire for violence through the stark order and discipline of the phalanx.” (Hanson: pg.16) (Word Count: 634)