In the city-states of ancient Greece, the hoplite emerged as the dominant infantry soldier by the 7th century BCE. Named after their central piece of equipment—the hoplon or aspis, a large, concave shield—hoplites were primarily drawn from the ranks of free, property-owning male citizens. They formed the backbone of Greek military forces, equipped and maintained at personal expense, and typically including farmers, artisans, and tradesmen. Hoplites fought in tight, disciplined units called phalanxes, where their overlapping shields created a wall of defense and offense. This formation emphasized collective cohesion over individual action. A soldier's primary weapons were the dory, a spear 2.5 to 4.5 meters long, and a short sword such as the xiphos or, less commonly, the curved kopis. The spear was used for both thrusting and defensive maneuvers, while the sword served as a backup in close combat. Spartan versions of the xiphos were especially short, ideal for thrusting in tight formations. The hoplite’s shield, typically 80 to 100 cm in diameter, was built of layered wood, bronze, and leather, and featured the innovative Argive grip, stabilizing the shield and increasing its utility in pushing and striking. Armor varied based on wealth. Wealthier hoplites wore bronze cuirasses and helmets—such as the Corinthian, Chalcidian, or Thracian types—along with greaves and decorated crests. Others, especially by the late 5th century BCE, used linen armor (linothorax) or fought with minimal protection, prioritizing mobility. Hoplites were instrumental in major Greek battles, including Marathon (490 BCE), Thermopylae (480 BCE), and Plataea (479 BCE), where their phalanx formations proved effective against Persian forces. Though initially a citizen militia, some city-states later developed elite units of selected hoplites (epilektoi), reflecting increasing professionalization. The hoplite legacy endures as a symbol of communal military duty and the fusion of civic identity with martial service in the ancient Greek world.

Shop

Greek Hoplite