I don’t think you’re too far from the point there (pardon the pun). The lonche bearers are inside: the somatophylakes and the paides basilikoi. The hypaspists likely surround the pavilion or palace and guard the entrances; always with “the” Macedonian weapon.Phoebus wrote:Really, I probably just need to accept that some things were used in a ceremonial, rather than practical, sense. Kind of how it makes little sense for the Old Guard of Arlington Cemetary to field old-style, non-automatic rifles when there are more modern carbines out there.
Phylarchus (whose point is more the pomp and decadence of Alexander’s court in its final year) has 500 Silver Shields (hypaspists) in attendance upon him. Sounds a little like a pair of lochoi.
Ahh...unlikely. The lonche if anything.amyntoros wrote: For instance, what about the Pages who guarded Alexander's sleep chamber? Were they equipped with sarissae also?
It is more than logical that the hypaspists were in “full uniform” or kit on guard; that would mean the xyphos as well as full amour.amyntoros wrote: How much use would a sarissa be if the attackers were from within Alexander's army and the pages/guards were unsuspecting? If they came closer than six feet and then drew their swords wouldn't sarissae be useless?
It is, I suppose, not likely that the king will have been assaulted by a small army in Babylon. Likewise any would be assassins would need to find entrance past a lochoi or more of hypaspists and then deal with those guards inside. They will have had to deal with those somatophylakes on duty as well.
Which he might well have done. Or across in front of himself. Either way, butt spike to the front or to the left, swing 'round right and...Hello folks! And what's in it for the infantry? (mind you, I’ve not gone to find a sarisa-like lump of wood to try it)Archimedes wrote:Paralus earlier mentioned that Coragus might have been holding a 6.5 kilo sarisa at its balance point in his left hand, and I took him to mean that Coragus was holding it horizontally at his side.
Which is the whole point of the "story". What’s the point you’re pursuing with all this?Archimedes wrote:Now if a considerable length of the sarisa projected behind Coragus on his left side, it might be a rather awkward chore to get the thing over to his right side. And then it would be an even more awkward chore to chase someone around and try to stick him.