Greek weaponry and armory.

Essay by hunterkiller51 June 2003

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The Hellenistic Age began with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and lasted until the true establishment of the Roman Empire upon the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC. The method of warfare in ancient Greece, and the world, consisted of arrows, spears, swords, axes and shields. Because of its ease of casting and superiority in strength, bronze was preferred in the making of weapons.Later on, Greeks fought in a very different way. Soldiers now fought in a strict battle line, standing in rows. They wore heavy armor which protected them very well when they fought as a group, but not if they were split up. They were called 'hoplites' after the shields they carried called a 'Hoplon'.

These weapons might have been like those used in the Trojan War. The sword blade (right) has a short blade and a spike so that it could be fitted onto a hand-grip.

The spear head (left) could be fitted onto a wooden shaft.

The spearbutt is meant to be a counter weight to the tip it could also be used in battle if the spearhead breaks

This little rock is only about three centimeters long and was used in a sling, a sling is a rope with a central pocket to hold the weapon being launched like rocks. The almond shape of it makes it fly like a missile. The shape is aerodynamically good, and a slinger could send a bullet over 100 km. per hour to a point 400 meters away, there causing fatal injury even to someone wearing armor.

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Here are two different kinds of Greek helmet, made of bronze. One of them covered the whole head, apart from the eyes and mouth.

The other had flaps of bronze to cover the soldier's cheeks...