Page "Phalanx formation" Paragraph 29

The basic combat element of the Greek armies was the stichos ( meaning " file ") or enomotia ( meaning " sworn "), usually 8 – 16 men strong, led by a decadarchos who was assisted by a dimoerites and two decasteroe ( sing.

decasteros ).

Four to a maximum of 32 enomotiae ( depending on the era in question or the city ) were forming a lochos led by a lochagos, who in this way was in command of initially 100 hoplites to a maximum of ca.

500 in the late Hellenistic armies.

Here, it has to be noted that the military manuals of Asclepiodotus and Aelian use the term lochos to denote a file in the phalanx.

A taxis ( mora for the Spartans ) was the greatest standard hoplitic formation of 500 to 1500 men, led by a strategos ( general ).

The entire army, a total of several taxeis or morae was led by a generals ' council.

The commander-in-chief was usually called a polemarchos or a strategos autocrator.