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en-wikipedia-org-4229		Phalanx - Wikipedia			.html	text/html	6970	542	74	The phalanx (Ancient Greek: φάλαγξ; plural phalanxes or phalanges, φάλαγγες, phalanges) was a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar pole weapons. This article focuses on the use of the military phalanx formation in Ancient Greece, the Hellenistic world, and other ancient states heavily influenced by Greek civilization. Historians such as Victor Davis Hanson point out that it is difficult to account for exceptionally deep phalanx formations unless they were necessary to facilitate the physical pushing depicted by this theory, as those behind the first two ranks could not take part in the actual spear thrusting.[5] The early history of the phalanx is largely one of combat between hoplite armies from competing Greek city-states.	./cache/en-wikipedia-org-4229.html	./txt/en-wikipedia-org-4229.txt