Changes: Xyston

Revision as of 12:57, 27 February 2021

The Xyston is a long thrusting weapon of Ancient Greece, 12 feet of impaling agony. It was the Mid-Range weapon of Alexander the Great. A similar shorter spear known as the dory was one of the Medium-Range weapons of the Spartan.

Description

The Xyston was a 12-foot long spear or lance with a wooden shaft and a metallic spearhead. On the opposite end of the shaft was a tapering butt spike used to counterbalance the weapon.

Stats

12 feet
7 lbs
Wood and Iron

Uses

The Xyston was probably used two-handed, although the image of Alexander the Great wielding a xyston one-handed appears on the Alexander Mosaic in Pompeii. It is typically associated with the hetairoi, the cavalry forces of Macedon.

The Xyston was designed to be more offensive than the dory, which was fitting for Alexander who was more of an imperialistic conqueror while Spartans focused on defending their nation. Pikes similar to the Xyston dominated medieval warfare and in some armies were more common than the sword, especially since swords required more steel and money to make than the Xyston.

The tip of the Xyston was small in order to have a more precise penetration to pierce shields and armor more effectively.

The Sarissa was a similar longer pike; but was only used by Macedonian hoplites (Phalangite) as they were too heavy for cavalry.

Both the Sarissa and Xyston has a counterweight on its butt end; similar to the Persian spears it faced. However it was long and narrow to allow the spear to anchor itself into the ground; giving the Phalangite more power to resist enemy cavalry charges. Like the smaller Dory; this butt spike can still be used as a backup spear if the main spearhead gets damaged.

An Aspis was too heavy to use along with a Xyston or Sarissa, so a lighter Pelta Shield was used by Macedonian Hoplites.

Similar spears were used by various other cavalry during the Classical Period, most noticeably used by the Cataphract. By the Medieval Age: the European Knights initially used similar spears while on horseback. However as armor improved, the spears for cavalry had heavier spearheads: evolving into the Lance.

Weakness

In regards to Phalangite pikemen; the Romans effectively used their Scutum shields to deflect the pikes upwards, allowing the Roman legionary to rush the hoplite. [1]

Documentary on the Companion Cavalry: [2]

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-:[[File:Xyston.jpg|thumb|282px|right|Xyston]]The '''Xyston''' is a long thrusting weapon of Ancient Greece. It was the Mid-Range weapon of [[Alexander the Great]]. A similar weapon known as the [[dory]] was one of the Medium-Range weapons of the [[Spartan]].
+[[File:Xyston.jpg|thumb|282px|right|Xyston]]The '''Xyston''' is a long thrusting weapon of Ancient Greece, 12 feet of impaling agony. It was the Mid-Range weapon of [[Alexander the Great]]. A similar shorter spear known as the [[dory]] was one of the Medium-Range weapons of the [[Spartan]].
 ==Description==
 The Xyston was a 12-foot long spear or lance with a wooden shaft and a metallic spearhead. On the opposite end of the shaft was a tapering butt spike used to counterbalance the weapon.
+===Stats===
+*12 feet
+*7 lbs
+*Wood and Iron
 ==Uses==
+The Xyston was probably used two-handed, although the image of Alexander the Great wielding a xyston one-handed appears on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Mosaic Alexander Mosaic] in Pompeii. It is typically associated with the ''hetairoi'', the cavalry forces of Macedon.
+The Xyston was designed to be more offensive than the dory, which was fitting for Alexander who was more of an imperialistic conqueror while Spartans focused on defending their nation. Pikes similar to the Xyston dominated medieval warfare and in some armies were more common than the sword, especially since swords required more steel and money to make than the Xyston.
+The tip of the Xyston was small in order to have a more precise penetration to pierce shields and armor more effectively.
+The Sarissa was a similar longer pike; but was only used by Macedonian hoplites (Phalangite) as they were too heavy for cavalry.
+Both the Sarissa and Xyston has a counterweight on its butt end; similar to the Persian spears it faced. However it was long and narrow to allow the spear to anchor itself into the ground; giving the Phalangite more power to resist enemy cavalry charges. Like the smaller Dory; this butt spike can still be used as a backup spear if the main spearhead gets damaged.
+An [[Aspis]] was too heavy to use along with a Xyston or Sarissa, so a lighter [[Aspis#Pelta|Pelta Shield]] was used by Macedonian Hoplites.
+Similar spears were used by various other cavalry during the Classical Period, most noticeably used by the Cataphract. By the Medieval Age: the European [[Knight]]s initially used similar spears while on horseback. However as armor improved, the spears for cavalry had heavier spearheads: evolving into the Lance.
+==Weakness==
+In regards to Phalangite pikemen; the [[Roman]]s effectively used their [[Scutum]] shields to deflect the pikes upwards, allowing the Roman legionary to rush the hoplite. [https://youtu.be/1gI65iIxbXI]
+Documentary on the Companion Cavalry: [https://youtu.be/bbLnrGGqyWY]
-The xyston was probably used two-handed, although the image of Alexander the Great wielding a xyston one-handed appears on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Mosaic Alexander Mosaic] in Pompeii. It is typically associated with the ''hetairoi'', the calvary forces of Macedon.
-The Xyston was designed to be more offensive than the dory, which was fitting for Alexander who was more of an imperialistic conqueror while Spartans focused on defending their nation. Pikes similar to the Xyston dominated medieval warfare and in some armies were more common than the sword, especially since swords required more steel and money to make.
 [[Category:Weapons]]
 [[Category:Ancient Weapons]]