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One of the best of recent GARRISON 20mm. figures
is the unusual ancient Greek type, the 'Boeotian hoplite with
pike', which presents some most interesting features, the
most obvious being the wearing of the curious Boeotian helmet
so unlike the customary Corinthian type which enclosed the
entire headpiece of its wearer, reducing vision and hearing
to near-zero. How the leader of a body of hoplites so equipped
could convey his command to them is something to be wondered
at, and it is not surprising that there developed several
open-fronted types, the principal of which is associated with
the Greek state of Boeotia and which was, it seems, recommended
by the famous Xenophon (of Anabasis' fame). In essence it
is simply a broad-brimmed metal hat with the brim pulled down
at the back and sides, thus leaving the eyes quite un-shielded
and the ears more or less likewise, not unlike the ordinary
civilian Greek headgear of the period, in fact. A crest seems
to have been added as time went on. A second point of interest
in this excellent figure is the manner of holding the spear.
Some earlier productions of hoplite figures have seemed to
indicate that the weapon was held by both hands, a thing patently
impossible, as the left was more than well occupied by the
heavy shield. Our Boeotian, however, is clearly - and correctly
- holding his spear with the right hand only, and his underarm
attitude also requires a little comment. In recent months
a vigorous correspondence has appeared in 'Sling-shot', journal
of the Society of Ancients, on the correctness of the grip,
whether it was under-arm or overarm. There is contemporary
evidence for both, favouring the latter, it is true, and certainly
the great width of the shield suggests that when hoplites
were in close order and their shields consequently over-lapping,
the spears would be held overarm to clear them. However, to
carry the heavy spear in this attitude for any length of time
would be something of a strain, and it may be that in the
approach towards an enemy, the spear was held underarm and
the grip shifted to overarm for the charge and for a downward
stroke. Whichever is correct, the figure is as good as anything
that GARRISON has produced and the writer has to confess to
having not a few Boeotians in the ranks of his ancient' army.
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