what is a phalanx

A phalanx is a military formation used by the ancient Greeks from the 7th century BCE to the 4th century BCE. It was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar pole weapons. The phalanx was composed of heavily armed infantry soldiers called hoplites who were organized in rows and files, with each soldier standing shoulder to shoulder and carrying a large, round shield called an aspis, a spear, and a short sword. The success of the phalanx relied heavily on the training and discipline of the soldiers, who were typically made up of citizens who were required to train and serve in the army as part of their civic duty. The Greek phalanx was a highly effective military formation that allowed Greek armies to achieve great victories in battle. The term "phalanx" is also used more broadly to refer to a massed arrangement of persons, animals, or things.