Philip II implemented the sarissa into the Macedonian cavalry prior to the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BCE. The sarissa, which was a long pike, was subsequently used in the Macedonian infantry to great success. This is because the sarissa was far longer than the spear, known as a dory, used by Greek hoplites previously. The spearhead of the sarissa was also far larger than that of the traditional hoplite spear. According to Theophrastus, the length of the sarissa was around 18 feet long. Because of its large size, the pike would have required two hands to wield. This meant that unlike previous hoplites, the Macedonian infantrymen did not have a free hand to be used to carry a shield. Instead, the Macedonian soldier hung his small bronze shield from around his neck. The shield was also strapped to the soldier’s left forearm so that it could achieve limited mobility. These shields were also often hollow in order to decrease the amount of weight and allow the soldier better control over the sarissa. The shaft of the sarissa was constructed of wood and its spearhead and butt-spike were made of metal. The pike also had a leather grip to help the soldier maintain control of the weapon and to make sure that all of the pikes were held out at the same length. The butt-spike was used as a counterbalance for the weight of the spearhead as well as to occasionally dig into the ground in order to stabilize the pike.
The implementation of the sarissa into the Macedonian phalanx gave the Macedonians a large military advantage. The increased length meant that the pikes of the Macedonians could reach their enemies at a longer distance. Still, the sarissa was too long of a weapon to be useful in any sort of combat outside of remaining in the tightly packed phalanx. Despite its drawbacks, the length of the sarissa gave the Macedonians the advantage in many decisive engagements. According to Polybius, “It is easy to understand that, for many reasons, when the phalanx has its characteristic qualities and force nothing is able to face it nor withstand its charge,” (Sage 170).
Photo Citation: https://www.historyhit.com/how-the-macedonian-phalanx-conquered-the-world/
Works Cited:
Connolly, Peter. Greece and Rome at War. Prentice-Hall, 1981.
Ducrey, Pierre. Warfare in Ancient Greece. Schocken Books, 1986.
English, Stephen. The Army of Alexander the Great. Pen & Sword Military, 2009.
Markle, Minor M. “The Macedonian Sarissa, Spear, and Related Armor.” American Journal of Archaeology, vol. 81, no. 3, 1977, pp. 323–339., doi:10.2307/503007.
Sage, Michael M. Warfare in Ancient Greece: a Sourcebook. Routledge, 2002.
Ancient Warfare - 97A 