Attached Link: Hoplite

*"Hoplites also carried a short sword called a* *[*xiphos*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphos "Xiphos")**. The short sword was a secondary weapon, used if and when their spears were broken or lost, or if the phalanx broke rank. When the enemy retreated, hoplites might drop their shield and spear, and pursue the enemy with their swords. The xiphos usually has a blade around 2 feet long, however those used by the Spartans were often only 12-18 inches long. This very short xiphos would be very advantageous in the press that occurred when two lines of hoplites met, capable of being thrust through gaps in the shieldwall into an enemy's unprotected groin or throat, while there was no room to swing a longer sword. Such a small weapon would be particularly useful after many hoplites had started to abandon body armor during the* [*Pelopponesian War*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelopponesian_War "Pelopponesian War")*. Hoplites could also alternatively carry the curved* [*kopis*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopis "Kopis")*, a particularly vicious hacking weapon, and Spartan hoplites were often depicted using this instead of the xiphos in Athenian art, the kopis being a quintessential "bad guys" weapon in Greek eyes.**By contrast with hoplites, other contemporary infantry (e.g.* [*Persian*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire "Achaemenid Empire")*) tended to wear relatively light armour, use wicker shields, and were armed with shorter spears,* [*javelins*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javelin "Javelin")*, and* [*bows*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_%28weapon%29 "Bow (weapon)")*.*

Hoplite warfare has been portrayed (with varying accuracy) in several films including Troy, The 300 Spartans and 300. Several strategy games, such as Rise of Nations, Rome: Total War, Spartan Total Warrior, Civilization (series), Ancient Wars: Sparta, Age of Empires and Age of Mythology, feature infantry units called 'Hoplites' or Phalanx."

  STOP PALESTINIAN CHILD ABUSE!!!! ISLAMIC HATRED OF JEWS