Post by Sir Langon on Jan 20, 2007 14:27:04 GMT -5
Ok, this week's Weapon is the Spear.
The spear was one of the first weapons ever created, it also has many uses, just as the axe. It can be a hunting weapon or it can be a weapon of war.
As a weapon of war it has many uses too, there are throwing spears, pikes, halberds, lances, and regular spears. Spears are also universal as they are used by both cavalry and infantry alike.
The most famous real-life use of the spear is the Greek Phalanx in which a group of Greek spear men, called hoplites, would form a box with their spears sticking out from behind their huge shields in all directions. This was definitely a defensive measure which was almost impregnable unless a giant ball of lit, flammable material was rolled through it. Most often the phalanx would have archers in the middle who would shoot the enemy from the protection of the hoplites.
Another famous use of the spear is the Roman Legions. They used throwing spears called pilums. The pilum had a long, skinny tip on it made of soft metal so that it would penetrate a shield or body and then bend so that it was impossible to throw back. If it stuck in a shield, the shield was rendered useless and the Legionnaire could close in and kill the enemy with his sword.
Just as with the axe, the spear was a common medieval weapon which require little training and low cost. The spears soon turned into long pikes and even halberds which were pikes with an axe and a spike on the back. The spike was often used to gut an enemy's horse or to catch hold of his cloak and drag him off of his horse so that he would be easier to kill. Spears are usually 8-10 feet in length while pikes and halberds range from 12 to even 20 feet in length. The standard lance was about 14 feet.
In LotR the spear has been an essential weapon as the armies are usually described as carrying glinting steel spears. Most notable of these armies was Saruman's army of Uruk-hai who carried gigantic pikes that reached at least 18 feet in length. These pikes would not only keep the Rohirrim away, but they could also be used to push siege ladders into place along the Deeping Wall.
Just as with the axe, post me a question and I shall answer.
The spear was one of the first weapons ever created, it also has many uses, just as the axe. It can be a hunting weapon or it can be a weapon of war.
As a weapon of war it has many uses too, there are throwing spears, pikes, halberds, lances, and regular spears. Spears are also universal as they are used by both cavalry and infantry alike.
The most famous real-life use of the spear is the Greek Phalanx in which a group of Greek spear men, called hoplites, would form a box with their spears sticking out from behind their huge shields in all directions. This was definitely a defensive measure which was almost impregnable unless a giant ball of lit, flammable material was rolled through it. Most often the phalanx would have archers in the middle who would shoot the enemy from the protection of the hoplites.
Another famous use of the spear is the Roman Legions. They used throwing spears called pilums. The pilum had a long, skinny tip on it made of soft metal so that it would penetrate a shield or body and then bend so that it was impossible to throw back. If it stuck in a shield, the shield was rendered useless and the Legionnaire could close in and kill the enemy with his sword.
Just as with the axe, the spear was a common medieval weapon which require little training and low cost. The spears soon turned into long pikes and even halberds which were pikes with an axe and a spike on the back. The spike was often used to gut an enemy's horse or to catch hold of his cloak and drag him off of his horse so that he would be easier to kill. Spears are usually 8-10 feet in length while pikes and halberds range from 12 to even 20 feet in length. The standard lance was about 14 feet.
In LotR the spear has been an essential weapon as the armies are usually described as carrying glinting steel spears. Most notable of these armies was Saruman's army of Uruk-hai who carried gigantic pikes that reached at least 18 feet in length. These pikes would not only keep the Rohirrim away, but they could also be used to push siege ladders into place along the Deeping Wall.
Just as with the axe, post me a question and I shall answer.