[Teaser] A Hoplite Prepares for War

Here is a portion of the script for our upcoming video. Enjoy!

This is a Greek Hoplite of the 5th century BC. While history tends to focus on their actions in battle, what gets overlooked are the myriad of steps required to get them there including setting up camp, exercising, bathing, donning armor, and marching to the front. So today let’s explore what it was like for a Hoplite to prepare for war.

We find ourselves in Greece as a small band of soldiers prepares to go to war in one of the many conflicts of the 5th century BC.

A fundamental feature of most hoplites of this period is that these were citizen militias rather than professional troops. As such their gear and the presence of personal slaves reflected the means of each soldier. Tents meanwhile seem to have been small, simple affairs, which might be shared between neighbors from home.

Such slaves helped provide much of the manual labor of camp life while making a hoplite’s life easier by carrying their kit, water, and heavy shield whilst on the march.

The process of gearing up would begin in the morning before a march to the battlefield. The hoplite would dress from the ground up. Greaves would likely come first. However molded bronze pieces were quite expensive and not everyone could afford them. Sometimes only one’s leading leg was protected or they might be left barren entirely.

Equipping greaves was relatively simple. When properly fitted they did not even require ties. After this, the soldier would then slip on his sandals over his socks. Though unfashionable today, thick socks worn with sandals were a practical solution for both warmth and for padding.

As a base for the torso, soldiers wore the universal short tunic, known as the chiton, which also provided for warmth and padding. In addition a headband would often be worn to catch sweat but more importantly to provide padding for one’s helmet.

Next came the chest armor. For much of the Hellenistic period, the most common type was the linothorax. Made of layered linen it was surprisingly strong while being cheaper, lighter, and cooler than its bronze or iron counterparts.

Owing to its organic composition, no specimens survive. Nonetheless we know what the armour looked like from many records in artwork and pottery. As for descriptions, only its name has survived and we are left in the dark regarding its manufacture. Modern versions therefore are based on theoretical reconstruction based on methods that would have been available to Greeks at the time. This may have involved gluing layers of linen on top of each other. Once the armour had set, it could then be cut to size, creating a piece custom fit to an individual.

The armour was simple enough to be donned alone, but for an optimal fit, it was best to have a second person - whether that was a friend or a slave - to tighten the fittings appropriately.