Sarissas

A sarissa was a 4-6 meter long pike used by the phalangites and sarissophoroi of the hellenistic armies. It was used in a spear wall formation where the phalangites would present a forest of spears for the enemy. The sarissa was carried in two pieces and then assembled when they reached the battlefield. It had a counterweight made of bronze which ensured that the sarissa could be used as a mace, if it was broken.