38. The amphistomos formation
The amphistomos [ἀμφίστομος] phalanx resembles that mentioned in the last chapter, and is adopted to resist various charges of cavalry. Everything outlined with regard to the antistomos phalanx is applicable to the amphistomos formation in terms of both the infantry and the cavalry. Where they differ is that, in the antistomos formation, the enemy charge is repelled by the front and rear of the formation. However, in the amphistomos formation, the charge is met by the flanks. (See Plate 22.) in either case, the soldiers use long pikes like the Alani or the Sauromatae. The antistomos formation throws half the files to face the front and the other half to face the rear, with the men standing back-to-back.1 it has two fronts, one made up of file-leaders and the other of ouragoi.2 A phalanx divided in two in this manner forms one front with one diphalangarchia and the other front with the other diphalangarchia.
λθ’ Τί ἐστι διφαλαγγία ἀντίστομος
[Αντίστομις]a διφαλαγγία, ἥτις τοὺς ἡγεμόνας οὐκ ετι ἐντὸς ἐν παραγωγιᾶς, ἀλλ’ ἐντὸς ἔχει ἀπ’ ἐναντίας ἀλλήλων παρατεταγμένους, τούς δὲ οὐραγοὺς ἐντός τοὺς μὲν ἐν δεξιᾶ παραγωγῇ, τοὺς δέ ἐν εὐωνύμῳ, γίνεται δὲ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦτο, ὅταν ἱππικὴ προσβολὴ ἐμβολοειδὴς ᾖ.
τοὺ γὰρ ἐμβόλου εἰς ὀξὺ λήγοντος, καὶ ἔχοντος ἀκολουθοῦντας ἐνπλαγίου τοὺς ἑγεμόνας, καὶ διατεμεῖν προθυμουμένους κατὰ τοῦ μετώπου τὴν πεζικτὴν τάξιν, προορῶντες οἱ τῶν πεζῶν ἠγεμονες ἐν τῷ μέσῳ ἵστανατι. ἢ κωλύσαι ὀφείλοντες ἀυτῶν τῆν ἔισοδον, ἤ ποιῆσαι ἀυτοὺς ἀπράκτους παρελθεῖν.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐν τοῖς ἐμβόλοις ὁρμῶσιν, ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τοῦ καταγωνίσασθαι τὸ μέσον πλῆθος, καὶ τάραχον ἐμποιῆσαι τῷ τάγματι. οἱ δὲ τῶν πεζῶν στρατηγοὶ νοοῦντες τῆν ὁρμῆν τοῦ σχήματος ἐνείνου τοίχους ἑκατέρωθεν μιμησάμενοι, καὶ μικρὸν ἑαυτοὺς διαστήσαντες, καὶ συνεύοντες κατὰ τοῦ μὲσου κενὴν ἀυτοῖς διδόασι τὴν πάραδον.
τὸ δὲ τοιοῦτον ἱππικὸν τάγμα παρὰ τοῖς τακτικοῖς ἔμβολος καλεῖται, ὃ ἐξεῦρε Φιλιππος ὁ τῶν Μακεδόνων βασιλεὺς τοῦ ἀνδρειοτάτους προτάξας, ἵνα δἰ αὐτῶν συνειργῶνται καὶ οἱ ἀσθενέστεροι. ὃν τρόπον ἐπὶ τῆς λόγχης ἢ ἐπὶ τοῦ ξίφους ὁρῶμεν, τῷ κατὰ ἄκρα ἐστομωμένω, καὶ εὐκόλως τέμνοντα δἰ ὀξύτητα συνεῖοιόντα καὶ τὸν μὲσον ἀργὸν σίδηρον.
39. The antistomos diphalangarchia formation1
The form of battle-line that is called an antistomos diphalangarchia is that which, by paragogē, places the file-leaders not on the external line, but on the inside of the formation, next to each other as it were, with one unit on the right and the other on the left.2 (See Plate 23.)
This formation is adopted when enemy cavalry charge in a wedge. The wedge, having its acute angle as the leading point, and with its file-leaders following on its flanks, endeavours to break the front of the phalanx. However, the file-leaders of the infantry, aware of the intention of the cavalry, place themselves in the centre for the purpose of resisting the charge or of allowing the wedge to pass between the wings of the formation without receiving its impact.
The objective of the squadron formed into the wedge is to charge into the midst of the column and to defeat it. However, the leaders of the infantry, observing the point against which the charge will be made, open the line and, standing like a wall on each side, turn inwards and leave only an open space for the wedge to pass through.
A body of cavalry in this formation is called a wedge by tacticians. It was invented by Philip, King of the Macedonians, who made his bravest men commanders of the wedge so that the others might be better defended and covered and so that the formation might penetrate the phalanx more easily, just in the same way that the point of a spear or sword makes way for the duller metal that forms the later part of the weapon.3
μ’ Τί ἐστι διφαλαγγία περίστομος
[Ταύτης αἱ φάλαγγες κατὰ παραγωγὴν ἐπὶ κέρως πορευόμεναι, ἡ μὲν ἐν δεξιᾷ λοξὴ παραγωγή ἔχει τοὺς ἡγεμόνος, ἡ δὲ ἐν εὐωνύμω λοξὴ τοὺς οὐραγοὺς ἔνδοθεν ἔχουσα. δείκνυσι τὸ σχῆμα τῆς παρατάξεως τὰς ὁρμὰς τῶν πολεμούντων, ἐπειδὴ ἡ προσβάλλουσα τάξις πάλαι τετράγωνος οὖσα ἐμερισεν ἐαυτῆν εἰς δύο λοξὰ κέρατα τότε δεξιὸν, καὶ τὸ εὑώνυμον, κυκλῶσαι θέλουσα τῆν ἀνθισταμένην ἐν τετραγώνῳ τάξιν, διὰ τοῦτο οἱ μέλλοντες κυκλοῦσθαι εἰς δύο φάλαγγας κινουμένας μετεσχημάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς, καὶ οἱ μὲν ἀυτῶν πρός τὸ εὐώνυμον ἐβάρησαν κέρας, οἱ δὲ πρὸς τὸ δεξιὸν μετεστράφησαν, ὅθεν κὰι περίστομος ἐκλήθη ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἔχουσα πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους στόμα νενευκός. ]a
40. The peristomos diphalangarchia formation
The peristomos diphalangarchia [διφαλαγγία περίστομος] is a form of battle-line when the formation marches in deduction by flank, the unit in oblique deduction on the right having the file-leaders in the outermost file, while the unit on the left has the ouragoi on the inside.1 The figure shows this order of battle. (See Plate 24.) The phalanx, in a tetragonal formation and having commenced a charge, opens itself obliquely by wings to the left and right, with a view to surround an opposing square that, wary of the consequences, must redeploy into two movable columns, which are then directed against the left and right wings. Hence the term peristomos, as the formation has an oblique front ready to meet the enemy on every side.
μα’ Τί ἐστι φάλαγξ ὁμοιόστομος πῶς πλινθίον
[Οὕτω καλειται αὕτη, ὅτι λόχου τελείου κινουμένου κατ’ ἀυτῶν, τουτέστιν ἀνδρῶν ἑκκαίδεκα ὄπισθεν ὁμοίως λόχος ἀυτῇ ἕπεται, διὸ καὶ ὁμοιόστομος κέκληται, ὅτι καὶ ἡ ἀκολουθσῦντες ἀυτοῖς ἐν ὀμοίῳ σχήματι ἕπονται. ἀντίκειται αὕτη τῷ πλινθίῳ. λέγεται δὲ πλινθίον τάγμα ἰσόπλευρον, καὶ τῷ σχήματι, καὶ τῷ ἀριμῷ. σχήματι μὲν, ὅτι πανταχόθεν ἶσα ἔχει τά διαστήματα. ἀριθμῷ δὲ, ὅτι ὅσους ἔχει τὸ μῆκος, τοσούτους καὶ τὸ βάθος, ἐν δὲ τῷ τοιούτῳ [τάγματι]a ἐν τῶν τεσστάρων πλευρῶν ὁπλίται παρατάττονται, οὔτε τοξότου οὔτε σφενδοίτου τοῖς πλευροῖς συγκάμνοντος. ἔστι δὲ τοῦτο τὸ πλινθίον ἐν δύο διμοιριῶν. τὸ γὰρ ἥμιου τοῦ λόχου διμορία καλεῖται, ὀφείλοντος γὰρ τοῦ λόχου ἔχειν ἑκκαίδεκα, ὀκτὼ ἄνδρας ἔχει ἡ διμορία. ὅταν οὖ
ν αἱ φάλαγγες παραπορευόμεναι ἀλλήλαις, ἢ ἐν δεξιᾷ παραγωγῇ ἔχωσιν ἀμφότεραι τοῦς ἡγεμονας,ἢ ἐν εὐωνύμῳ, τότε λέγεται ὁμοιόστομος διφαλαγγία.]b
41. The homoiostomos formation and the plinthium formation
The homoiostomos [ὁμοιόστομος] phalanx is that in which a whole file (i.e. sixteen men) marches with another file following behind it, and takes the name homoiostomos because those who march behind move in the same manner as those who lead.1 (See Plate 25.) Against this order of battle, the plinthium is generally employed. The plinthium [πλινθίον] is a perfect square formation, both in form and in number: in form, because each side occupies an equal space, and in number, because it has as many men in its width as it does in its depth. Within this formation, the heavily armed are employed alone, without the incorporation of either archers or slingers.2 The plinthium is made up of two dimoiriae, which is the name for half a file, so that, when the file consists of sixteen men, the dimoiria naturally consists of eight men.3 When, therefore, the larger divisions of the phalanx, marching side by side, have their file-leaders in a deduction to the right or left flank, this is called the diphalangia homoiostomos.
μβ’ Τί ἐστι φάλαγξ ἑτερόστομος
[Ἥ τις κατ’ ἐπαγωγὴν πορευομένη τοῦ μὲν ἡγουμένου τάγματος τοῦς ἡγεμόνας ἔχει, ὡς εἰκὸς ἐν δεξιᾷ παραγωγῇ, τοῦ δὲ ἐπομένου, ἐν εὐωνύμῳ. ὡς πορεύεσθαι τὰ συντάγματα τὰ ἐναλλὰξ, τὸ μὲν ἔχον ἐνθατερῳ μέρειτοὺς ἡγεμόνας, τὸ δὲ ἐν τῷ ἄλλῳ, καὶ ὁμοίως τὰ λοιπά.]a
42. The heterostomos formation
The heterostomos [ἑτερόστομος] phalanx is a formation that, marching by deduction, has the file-leaders of the leading unit on the right-hand side, and those of the next unit on the left-hand side, following each other alternately, so that the former has its leaders on one hand, and the latter has them on the other, to the end of the phalanx. (See Plate 26.)
μγ’ Περὶ τῶν ῥομβοειδῶν ἱππέων. Τί ἐστι φάλαγξ μηνοειδής
[Ταύτην πρῶτος Ἰλέων εὗρεν ὁ Θεσσαλὸς, ὅθεν καὶ ἴλη ἐκ τοῦ ὀνόματος ἀυτοῦ`κέκληται. καὶ πρὸς ἀυτὸ τὸ σχῆμα, Θεσσαλοὺς πάντας ἐγυμνασεν. ἐστὶ δὲ χρήσιμον, ἐπειδὴ [καθ’]a ἑκαστιν γωγίαν ἔχει στρατηγὸν τεταγμένον πρῶτον μὲν τὸν ἰλαρχην, τελευταῖον δὲ τὸν οὑραγὸν, ἐκατέρωθεν δὲ τοὺς πλαγιοφύλακας.
ἀντιμάχεται δὲ πρὸς ταύτην ἡ μηνοειδὴς τὰ κέρατα ἔχουσα προπορευόμενα, καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τὸ μέσον κοιλαίνουσα, πρὸς τὸ κυκλῶσαι τὴν ἱππικὴν δύναμιν παρασκευασμένην. ὅθεν οἱ ἱππεῖς κατὰ τὸ τῶν [Ταραντίνων ἀκροβολισμῶν]b σχῆμα πόῤῥωθεν ἀκοντίζουσι τὴν κυκλικὴν πορείαν ἀυτῶν ἀναστέλλοντες. Τάρας γὰρ πόλις τῆς Σιχελίας, ἧς ὁ στρατιώτης ακροβολιστὴς κέκληται, διὰ τὸ ἵππων μικρὰ πέμπειν ἀκόντια καὶ μετέρχεσθαι συμπληγάδον.]c
43. The cavalry rhombus and the half-moon infantry formation
The cavalry squadron in the shape of a rhombus was invented by Ileon the Thessalian and was called an ilē [ἴλη] after his name.1 He trained all of the Thessalians in this kind of formation. It has its uses, particularly as it has an officer at each corner, with the ilarch leading, the ouragos closing the troop, and one of the two flank guards posted on each side.2
Against an attack by cavalry arranged in a rhombus, infantry should adopt the formation called the menoeides [μηνοειδής], or crescent, with its wings extended forward and its centre embowed, or hollowed, for the purpose of surrounding the attacking rhombus formation. (See Plate 27.) To counter this, charging cavalry will regularly cast missiles in the manner of the Tarantine ‘darters’, to attempt to throw the semi-circular arrangement of the infantry into disorder.3 Tarentum is a city of Italy4 where the cavalry use missiles, first throwing small javelins and then closing for mêlée combat.
μδ’ Τί ἐστι ἑτερομηκης. Τί ἐστι φάλαγξ πλαγία
[Ἥτις ἔχει διπλάσιον τὸ βάθος τοῦ μήκους. ἔστι δὲ ἀναγκαία κατὰ πλείονας τρόπους. καὶ γὰρ ἀπατῆσου πολεμίους ὀλίγοι εἰσιν οἱ ἐν αὐτῇ διὰ τὸ μὴ κατέχειν πλάτος. καὶ διακόψαι παρατεταγμένως πολεμίαν δύναμιν, εὐκόλως δύναται τῆ πυκνώσει, καὶ τῇ ῥώμῃ τοῦ κατατάγματος, καὶ διὰ στενῆς δὲ χώρας ἱκανὴ παρελθεῖν ἀνεπαισθήτως.
ἀντίκειται δὲ ἀυτῇ πεζικὴ δύναμις, ἡ καλεῖται πλαγία φάλαγξ, μηκύνει γὰρ ἑαυτῆν εἰς πλάθος, ἵνα κἂν διακόπτεται, ὀλίγον ᾗ τὸ βάθος τὸ διακοπτόμενον, καὶ ἡ τῶν ἱππέων τόλμα μἠ ἐις [ὄχλον, αλλ’ ἐις ἀέρα συντόμως]a ἐνφερήται. διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ πολλαπλάσιον ἔχει τὸ βάθος τοῦ μήκους.]b
44. The heteromekes cavalry formation and the transverse infantry phalanx
A squadron of cavalry forming an oblong square, with a depth double that of its width, is known as a heteromekes [ἑτερομηκης] formation. Such a formation is useful in many situations. It can be adopted to deceive an enemy by the narrowness of its frontage, and to break his line through the weight and density of its configuration. It may also be easily led through defiles without the size of the army being easily perceived.
The infantry formation best suited to oppose this is the transverse phalanx [phalanx plagia, φάλαγξ πλαγία], or oblong formation.1 Although this formation is easily pierced by the opposing cavalry, its depth is so small that a violent charge by cavalry is hardly felt by the majority of the infantry, but the impetus is mainly wasted on empty space because, being extended laterally, the infantry formation has only a small dimension from front to rear.
με’ Περὶ τῶν ῥομβοειδῶν ἱππέων. Τί ἐστι ἐπικάμπιος εμπροσθία
[Περὶ τούτης οὐδὲν πλέον ἔστιν εἰπεῖν, ἢ ὅτι στοιχεῖ μὲν, οὐ ζυγεῖ δὲ. τὸ γὰρ χρειῶδες τοῦ σχήματος προλαβόντες εἰρήκαμεν, ὃτι εὐρε μὲν ἀυτῆν Ἰλέων Θεσσαλὸς, ἐπήσκησε δὲ αὐτῆν Ἰάσων ὁ Μηδέιας ἀνὴρ, ἀναγκαία δὲ ἐστιν, ἐν τῶν τεσσάρων ζυγῶν πεφυλαγμένη, ἐν τοῦ λοχαγοῦ, ἐν τοῦ οὐραγοῦ, καὶ τῶν πλαγιοφυλάκων. τετακται δὲ ἡ ἴλη αὕτη ἐξ ιπποτοξοτῶν, ὡς Ἀρμενίοις καὶ Παρθυαίοις ἦν ἔθος.
ἀντίκειται δὲ ἀυτῇ ἡ τῶν πεζῶν, ἣ καλεῖται μὲν ἐπικάμπιος ἐμπροσθια, παρὰ τὸ κάμψιν μιμεῖσθαι τῆν περιαγωγὴν αὐτῆς.
ὁρᾷ δὲ πρὸς ἀπάτην τῶν ἱπποτοξοτῶν, ἵνα ἢ ὁραθέντας ἀυτοὺς, καὶ κατελάσαντας τοῦ κενώματος μεσολαβήσωσιν,
ἢ ἵνα τοῖς κέρασι ταράξαντες αὐτοὺς καὶ καταλύσαντες ἀυτῶν τῆν προσβολὴν διὰ τῶν μέσων σημαίων ὄντων ἐπιθέμενοι πριγέμωνται.]a
45. The cavalry rhombus and the epicampios emprosthia infantry formation
It is not necessary to say more on the rhombus formation that has files but does not have ranks.1 Its use and configuration has already been outlined and it has been shown that it was invented by Ileon the Thessalian and that Jason, the lover of Medea, improved upon it.2 The formation has its uses, when necessity demands, and it is well guarded at its four corners by the ilarch, the ouragos and the two flank guards. It is generally composed of mounted archers in the Armenian and Parthian manner.
The formation of infantry adopted to oppose the rhombus is called the epicampios emprosthia [ἐπικάμπιος ἐμπροσθια] or the ‘formation with projecting wings’. This formation is so named because it is hollowed, or embowed, in the front.3
The purpose of this infantry formation is to lead the horse archers into a trap by either receiving them, on their first charge, into the hollow and then surrounding them, or by attacking them on the flanks with the wings, thus breaking the force of any charge, with the advanced columns on the wings overcoming the cavalry while they also fall in the centre.4 (See Plate 28.)
The Tactics of Aelian Page 13