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

40 THE HOPLITE'S ARMOR.gymnastic and military training in the public schools.At eighteen years of age he took a solemn oath offealty to thestate, and entered upon his military duties.From twenty to forty hewas bound to serve, wheneverdrawn, within or beyond the Atticterritory.After twenty years'service the citizen was discharged,and entered upon civilpursuits.But up to his sixtieth year hemust be ready at all times to fallinto the ranks to resistinvasion.Towards the end of the sixth centuryB. C, the classes were increasedto ten.The heavy infantry was thestrong arm of Athens, as ofHomeric Warrior.Sparta. The hoplite still bore the Homeric arms, consistingof large shield, long lance and short sword. The Homericarmor remained substantially the same among the Greeksever after. The warrior wore a tunic. He first put on hisgreaves ; then his cuirass in two parts, the mitre underneath,the zone above ; then he hung his sword on the left side inthe socket of a belt which went over the right shoulder ; henext assumed his shield, hung in similar manner ; then hishelmet ; then his spears. The hoplite fought in closed phalanxeight or more deep. The cavalry was weak ; the lighttroops (psiloi) insignificant. The army was apt to be setup in one or two lines, with the heavy foot in the centre, thelight foot in the wings, and the cavalry on the flanks. Butthis was not invariable.The organization of the troops at this time is not accuratelyknown. It appears to have been much the same as