The Greek Gods

Ancient Greek weapons were a necessity because there were many wars and battles. That era was very unsettling, for the whole European continent, and there was a great need for weapons that were dependable and easily accessible. Hopelites (foot soldiers) were the main backbone of the Greek army so they had to be equipped well. Most of the fighting was done by hand to hand combat. These soldiers had no training and they had no strategy or tactics so they went into battle using their own wits and also depending on those who fought beside them. They depended on each other to make the right moves and decisions, and have the skills to not only defend themselves but to help their fellow men.

The Hopelite wore about sixth five pounds of armor and carried a shield which was used to protect them and also as a weapon. They also carried a long spear which had a wooden handle and a head made from iron. The spears were about six to eight foot long and had a bronze end on the butt end of it. If the spears broke, the warrior would continue to use the butt end of the spear as a weapon. The shields were often used to break the enemies weapon.

The spear and shield were not the only weapons used. The warrior sometimes used the weapon called the ballista. The ballista was a powerful cross bow. It was not used by the Hoplites but it was still used as a weapon in the combats. It is believed that they were used as siege weapons to overtake the forts and other places where the foot soldiers were of no use. The Hoplites also carries a short sword on their side. The spear was, however, the most important weapon used. The warriors also sometimes used knives and other blades during a battle.

There was a lot of fighting between the cities in Greece. There were no trained soldiers so when there was a battle, every man in the city had to fight and they also had to buy their own armor and weapons.

The Greek poet named Homer described the battles of the famous Trojan War between the Titans and the Olympians. In the battle the soldiers used chariots and horses while the common soldiers and servants fought on foot. Later in history the soldiers fought in a wide line and standing in rows. They still wore heavy armor and carried their spears and wore their swords on their sides. This idea worked well as a group but not when a soldier was by himself.

The helmet part of the armor was made of bronze. It covered the cheeks and the back of the head and neck but not the face and ears. There were also other types of helmets worn. The breastplate and leg guards were made of bronze.