Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

140 THE SARISSA.headgear. At all events the pezetaeri wore in battle ahelmet, a cuirass or breastpiece and greaves or leggings.Little is said about foot-gear. Itwas probably the usual sandal orboot. They bore a spear, the sarissa,which, according to Polybius,was fourteen cubits, or twentyonefeet, long (the drilling spearGreaves.being two cubits longer, thus makingthe enormous length of twentyfourfeet), a shield of such size as to cover the entireperson of a kneeling soldier, fixed to hang over theshoidder so as not to monopolize the leftarm, and a short,straight, cut-and-thrustsword. The shield was apt to be decorated; often with some bird or beast oremblem of the soldier's natal city. Thesarissa was held six feet from the butt,which was loaded so as to balance, andthus protruded fifteen feet in front of theSandal.Sarissa Bearer.soldier. The first five ranks couched their spears,the others held them erect, or else leaned themon the shoulders ofthe rank before them.Only great individualstrength, suppled byconstant practice in theBoots.gymnasium, and steadydrill could render the phalangite able to executethe manoeuvres called for. Some of the bestmilitary critics have doubted the accuracy ofPolybius in this particular, and have sought toresidj'eet for cubits ; but there is no good reason to doubt the