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Description
"We'll see how barbarian hordes fare against a forest of spears!"

If the Amazons' cavalry can be considered a tactical hammer, then it is the women of the Macedonian phalanx that make the tactical anvil. Although familiar with the classic hoplite phalanx, the Amazons were quick to adopt the more powerful Macedonian phalanx in 332 BCE, when they met and befriended Alexander the Great. By that point, Alexander had just liberated Egypt from centuries of Persian occupation, and was crowned pharaoh. As a mutual enemy of the Persians, the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall offered their naval and military support against the Persians, which Alexander accepted. After his death in 323 BCE, Pharaoh Satsobek IV decided to honor Alexander's memory by adopting many of his army's units, weaponry, armor and tactics, which even survived and withstood against the Roman Empire, and were adopted by the Amazons of Themyscira in the second century CE. The women in the Macedonian phalanx are called "phalangites", so as to differentiate them from their more iconic sisters in arms, the hoplites.

Although they fight similarly, the phalangites are not as heavily equipped as the hoplites. For their armor, the phalangites wear a mix of hoplite armor and those worn by light infantry or cavalry. Each soldier is fitted with a Thracian/Phrygian helmet, bronze greaves and a scale linothorax cuirass. This lighter armor makes them more mobile, and while it certainly makes them seem more vulnerable, the phalangites compensate with their main weapon: a 20 ft long pike known in Greek as a sarissa. This pike is so long and heavy, that the phalangites need both hands to wield it. As such, each phalangite wears a smaller version of the hoplon shield which is slung over her neck and strapped to her left arm. The small size of the shield allows for the freedom of the left hand. Because the sarissa is so unwieldy in single combat, the phalangites are required to fight as part of a synchronized large mass. Deployed in divisions of 16 women across by 16 women deep, the first five ranks hold their pikes parallel to the ground, while the other ranks hold their pikes at a 45 degree angle to deflect incoming projectiles. For a sidearm, the phalangite is armed with a single-edged recurved sword called a "Kopis". Even centuries after Alexander's death, his phalanx still lives on.

So, for those of you wondering why I'm on an Amazon craze, it's because this year marks Wonder Woman's 80th anniversary, and I'm hoping to honor her in style. Anyway, for the phalangite, I really was having difficulty drawing her a bit, but ultimately I am glad how she turned out. Now, the phalangites can actually disassemble their sarissas into two pieces, which are connected by a coupling sleeve made usually of steel. This allows them to carry their weapons efficiently while on the march, and they can reassemble them just before battle. The basic unit within the phalanx is the dekas, consisting of 16 women, which can be combined to form a lochos of 128 women each. Twelve of these lochoi combined form a battalion of 1,536 women. Companies of 500 women are commanded by a Pentacosiarch, while units of 1000 women are commanded by a Chiliarch. Like the hoplites' Sacred Band, the phalangites also have an elite corps: the Argyraspides, or "Silver Shields". This corps consists of 3,000 women, and is commanded by 6 Pentecosiarchs and 3 Chiliarchs in total. While the Macedonian phalanx is also strong at the front, it is vulnerable to attacks from the rear, and does not fight well in hilly or mountainous terrain. To prevent outflanking, the Macedonian phalanx usually is deployed in a hollow square to take on attacks from all sides, or with two legions deployed on the wings. Alongside the hoplites, the phalangites are primarily an anti-cavalry force, meant to stop the impetus of a charge. This was made prominent in the 15th and 16th centuries when Themyscira successfully repelled attempts by Spanish conquistadors to occupy their archipelago, as they were able to stop countless cavalry charges of Spanish knights, and even bested the famed tercios. Even when the pike was phased out by most European nations in favor of the bayonet, the Amazons still use the Macedonian phalanx to great effect.

Disclaimer: The Amazons of Themyscira belong to Harry G. Peter and Dr. William Moulton Marston.

Description
"We'll see how barbarian hordes fare against a forest of spears!"

If the Amazons' cavalry can be considered a tactical hammer, then it is the women of the Macedonian phalanx that make the tactical anvil. Although familiar with the classic hoplite phalanx, the Amazons were quick to adopt the more powerful Macedonian phalanx in 332 BCE, when they met and befriended Alexander the Great. By that point, Alexander had just liberated Egypt from centuries of Persian occupation, and was crowned pharaoh. As a mutual enemy of the Persians, the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall offered their naval and military support against the Persians, which Alexander accepted. After his death in 323 BCE, Pharaoh Satsobek IV decided to honor Alexander's memory by adopting many of his army's units, weaponry, armor and tactics, which even survived and withstood against the Roman Empire, and were adopted by the Amazons of Themyscira in the second century CE. The women in the Macedonian phalanx are called "phalangites", so as to differentiate them from their more iconic sisters in arms, the hoplites.

Although they fight similarly, the phalangites are not as heavily equipped as the hoplites. For their armor, the phalangites wear a mix of hoplite armor and those worn by light infantry or cavalry. Each soldier is fitted with a Thracian/Phrygian helmet, bronze greaves and a scale linothorax cuirass. This lighter armor makes them more mobile, and while it certainly makes them seem more vulnerable, the phalangites compensate with their main weapon: a 20 ft long pike known in Greek as a sarissa. This pike is so long and heavy, that the phalangites need both hands to wield it. As such, each phalangite wears a smaller version of the hoplon shield which is slung over her neck and strapped to her left arm. The small size of the shield allows for the freedom of the left hand. Because the sarissa is so unwieldy in single combat, the phalangites are required to fight as part of a synchronized large mass. Deployed in divisions of 16 women across by 16 women deep, the first five ranks hold their pikes parallel to the ground, while the other ranks hold their pikes at a 45 degree angle to deflect incoming projectiles. For a sidearm, the phalangite is armed with a single-edged recurved sword called a "Kopis". Even centuries after Alexander's death, his phalanx still lives on.

So, for those of you wondering why I'm on an Amazon craze, it's because this year marks Wonder Woman's 80th anniversary, and I'm hoping to honor her in style. Anyway, for the phalangite, I really was having difficulty drawing her a bit, but ultimately I am glad how she turned out. Now, the phalangites can actually disassemble their sarissas into two pieces, which are connected by a coupling sleeve made usually of steel. This allows them to carry their weapons efficiently while on the march, and they can reassemble them just before battle. The basic unit within the phalanx is the dekas, consisting of 16 women, which can be combined to form a lochos of 128 women each. Twelve of these lochoi combined form a battalion of 1,536 women. Companies of 500 women are commanded by a Pentacosiarch, while units of 1000 women are commanded by a Chiliarch. Like the hoplites' Sacred Band, the phalangites also have an elite corps: the Argyraspides, or "Silver Shields". This corps consists of 3,000 women, and is commanded by 6 Pentecosiarchs and 3 Chiliarchs in total. While the Macedonian phalanx is also strong at the front, it is vulnerable to attacks from the rear, and does not fight well in hilly or mountainous terrain. To prevent outflanking, the Macedonian phalanx usually is deployed in a hollow square to take on attacks from all sides, or with two legions deployed on the wings. Alongside the hoplites, the phalangites are primarily an anti-cavalry force, meant to stop the impetus of a charge. This was made prominent in the 15th and 16th centuries when Themyscira successfully repelled attempts by Spanish conquistadors to occupy their archipelago, as they were able to stop countless cavalry charges of Spanish knights, and even bested the famed tercios. Even when the pike was phased out by most European nations in favor of the bayonet, the Amazons still use the Macedonian phalanx to great effect.

Disclaimer: The Amazons of Themyscira belong to Harry G. Peter and Dr. William Moulton Marston.