LionStrong said:
I heard that the hoplon was designed so that it was useless in one on one combat to make people not want to leave the formation because as soon as they leave the formation they will be in trouble (because of how the shields designed with half of it jutting out to the left) and would be better off staying in formation making people less likely to run in battle.
This is one example of this theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__mH8Xa7Sto
I somewhat agree with this but I was wondering if there was any evidence to it.
Ahh, this video again. I like Lindy, I do, but some of the things he says there are a bit flawed. Ironically, just today (I work within the furniture business and thusly have access to lots of supplies), I made a very basic mock-up of the aspis, of the shorter length, in cardboard (which is 32'' diameter, though some have been found to be 40''), and I poked holes through it and used tie wraps to closely and in function identically emulate the way it is held. It juts out to the left just as shown, of course. While I agree and I think he's correct in his idea being that at least part of the function of this shield design may have been to enforce the need for formation fighting, I am completely un-moved by the idea that this shield is useless in one-on-one fighting.
Now, I don't think it's the best by any means for single combat, nor do I think that was it's purpose, obviously, but (it needs to be said what I held is nowhere near 20 pounds or so), ergonomically at least, it's still of a fairly massive size, and if you can move your body in such a way as to keep the thing covering most of yourself, I dare say it beats having no shield by miles.
Now, as for what I personally think a hoplite would or at least what I would do when forced to fight alone, (say, your formation has routed, or the enemy has and you're in full pursuit), would be basically to huddle around the shield and use the spear for all of it's range in whatever way physically possible to keep the enemy busy. Now, barring that, say your spear is broken, or you've made the decision to throw it at the enemy, which I also think is very viable, what I would do, and what I think any intelligent person might be given to do, is actually smash into the enemy and immediately move to secondary weapons, which would benefit your freedom of movement if it's small, not much bigger than knife-size.
The shield is not immensely maneuverable, but barring you being stabbed immediately in the face when forced to single combat, which you can use your spear to avoid, you have a greatest chance of restricting your enemy's movement when you're point-blank with them, because the sheer size of the aspis allows them typically only able to go above to attack you. Opposite you, their right arm which is most people's sword-arm/good arm, is simply unable to get around the large part of your shield that juts out to your left, and really the only avenue at that range is above the shields.
That's just my thoughts on it. Now, another thing Lindy says is that the shield he thinks, was made to be used with a spear under-arm. Now, if he means under-arm above the shield rim that's one thing, but in the video, he motions under-arm and below the shield. Holding even a mock-up of the aspis that's the right diameter, with the grips in the right place and the shield held even how he's holding it, it would be physically impossible to attack with any strength or amount of dexterity with an 8' counter-weighted spear below an aspis. It's too large, and restricts you to the point where you wouldn't be able to manage that, even more so if you were actually in a shield wall.
Edit: Okay, take this with a big grain of salt of course, but here's at least some aesthetically and bio-mechanically interesting footage of what it might look like to spar or fight one on one with hoplitic equipment. Again, there could be a weight or construction difference, but I don't see it is total rubbish in this scenario. If there are more accurate sparring sessions out there, I'm all eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Psk31l6ucc