[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by jyl

IIRC the ancient Greeks typically fought in phalanxes, tightly organized formations of men with shields and spears. Each man's right side was protected by the shield of the man to his right. Unless the phalanx was broken, or you were the unlucky rightmost man.

There is a historian named Victor Davis Hansen who has written on the ancient Greek military techniques. One of his books is "The Western Way Of War", quite readable. He has become rather political and is something of a right-wing favorite, but this book was written back when he wasn't a talking head.

They explained this later in the show - makes perfect sense.
Thanks.