This week on the blog: Hoplites! We're taking a crack at explaining the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the ancient Greek heavy infantryman, the hoplite, and the phalanx in which he (mostly) fought.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This week on the blog: Hoplites! We're taking a crack at explaining the long-running debate over the nature and significance of the ancient Greek heavy infantryman, the hoplite, and the phalanx in which he (mostly) fought.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
I did, in fact, end up adding that note to the first part of the hoplite series, placing Ardant du Picq in his proper spot as the key theory foundation for Face of Battle studies and thus modern hoplite orthodoxy.
Go forth and read Battle Studies, ye ancient military historians.
Go forth and read Battle Studies, ye ancient military historians.
December 13, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I did, in fact, end up adding that note to the first part of the hoplite series, placing Ardant du Picq in his proper spot as the key theory foundation for Face of Battle studies and thus modern hoplite orthodoxy.
Go forth and read Battle Studies, ye ancient military historians.
Go forth and read Battle Studies, ye ancient military historians.
Of course I couldn't resist the title I used - I am hardly the first to refer to the debate as 'the othismos over othismos' - but one thing I hope I am getting across here (and part II will further develop this) is that the tactical questions are interesting, but not the most interesting part.
November 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Of course I couldn't resist the title I used - I am hardly the first to refer to the debate as 'the othismos over othismos' - but one thing I hope I am getting across here (and part II will further develop this) is that the tactical questions are interesting, but not the most interesting part.
I recommended this book on the blog back in November (acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...) and I cannot recommend it highly enough, for understanding both the civil rights movement and how strategy works.
Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it’s not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week…
acoup.blog
January 25, 2026 at 4:56 PM
I recommended this book on the blog back in November (acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...) and I cannot recommend it highly enough, for understanding both the civil rights movement and how strategy works.
Need that othismos that only caffeine can provide.
September 1, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Need that othismos that only caffeine can provide.
Fireside this week, laying out a brief historiography (the 'history of the history') of the Roman strategy debate - the argument that has swirled since 1976 on the degree if Romans engaged in state-level strategic policy or if they were even able to do so.
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it’s not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week…
acoup.blog
November 10, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Fireside this week, laying out a brief historiography (the 'history of the history') of the Roman strategy debate - the argument that has swirled since 1976 on the degree if Romans engaged in state-level strategic policy or if they were even able to do so.
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
(yes)
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣: THE UPCOMING TERROR ⚔️
➡️December 16th, 2024⬅️
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️ othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #MetalSky #TheUpcomingTerror24 #KMäN
➡️December 16th, 2024⬅️
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️ othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #MetalSky #TheUpcomingTerror24 #KMäN
November 9, 2024 at 1:09 AM
2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣: THE UPCOMING TERROR ⚔️
➡️December 16th, 2024⬅️
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️ othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #MetalSky #TheUpcomingTerror24 #KMäN
➡️December 16th, 2024⬅️
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️ othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #MetalSky #TheUpcomingTerror24 #KMäN
There's a kind of irony to the fact that VDH is unaware of who VDH's chief theoretical foundation is, in that had he engaged with Battle Studies, it might have given him serious pause over a lot of the sillier parts of the orthodox model, like the shoving othismos.
December 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
There's a kind of irony to the fact that VDH is unaware of who VDH's chief theoretical foundation is, in that had he engaged with Battle Studies, it might have given him serious pause over a lot of the sillier parts of the orthodox model, like the shoving othismos.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c... - excellent article by @bretdevereaux.bsky.social . At a wider level, IMO the key thing about the pushing model where it all falls apart is that it is completely alien to how humans behave in combat situations, from sports to war.
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 5:07 AM
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c... - excellent article by @bretdevereaux.bsky.social . At a wider level, IMO the key thing about the pushing model where it all falls apart is that it is completely alien to how humans behave in combat situations, from sports to war.
DETH DEKK DOMINIONS:🎧🆕🎧2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #DDDec16 #MetalSky #DethDekk #KMäN
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #DDDec16 #MetalSky #DethDekk #KMäN
December 16, 2024 at 8:38 AM
DETH DEKK DOMINIONS:🎧🆕🎧2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #DDDec16 #MetalSky #DethDekk #KMäN
OTHISMOS - Sottrazione 🇮🇹 💢
3rd album from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italian Black Punk/Crust Metal outfit 💢
BC➡️othismos.bandcamp.com/album/sottra... 💢
#Othismos #Sottrazione #BlackPunk #CrustMetal #DDDec16 #MetalSky #DethDekk #KMäN
Aww this reminds me of my mid-late 90s glory days when I was immersed in this for my dissertation. Can't wait to finish my chores so I can read this @democracyprof.bsky.social. I confidently predict Bret will be an engaging and insightful read on this as usual. 1/
#AncientBluesky
#AncientBluesky
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Aww this reminds me of my mid-late 90s glory days when I was immersed in this for my dissertation. Can't wait to finish my chores so I can read this @democracyprof.bsky.social. I confidently predict Bret will be an engaging and insightful read on this as usual. 1/
#AncientBluesky
#AncientBluesky
You know who else recently recommended that book? Me!
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Back in November! It's a good book!
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Back in November! It's a good book!
Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it’s not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week…
acoup.blog
January 26, 2026 at 8:58 PM
You know who else recently recommended that book? Me!
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Back in November! It's a good book!
acoup.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Back in November! It's a good book!
💥 ALBUM REVIEW 💥
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Album Review: Othismos - Sottrazione
The Razor's Edge review the new Othismos album, Sottrazione. Released December 16th
buff.ly
December 16, 2024 at 10:00 AM
💥 ALBUM REVIEW 💥
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
💥 ALBUM REVIEW 💥
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Read: therazorsedge.rocks/2024-12-albu...
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Read: therazorsedge.rocks/2024-12-albu...
Album Review: Othismos - Sottrazione
The Razor's Edge review the new Othismos album, Sottrazione. Released December 16th
therazorsedge.rocks
December 13, 2024 at 12:27 PM
💥 ALBUM REVIEW 💥
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Read: therazorsedge.rocks/2024-12-albu...
Italian blackened crust force Othismos release 'Sottrazione'
"stark and unrepentant"
Read: therazorsedge.rocks/2024-12-albu...
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social What a top scrum looks like. Note how *fast* it is, and that once it starts moving, it just all cascades back and momentum keeps it going.
This is not a fifteen-second contest, let alone a fifteen minute one. Othismos was not a scrum analogue.
This is not a fifteen-second contest, let alone a fifteen minute one. Othismos was not a scrum analogue.
November 23, 2025 at 1:49 PM
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social What a top scrum looks like. Note how *fast* it is, and that once it starts moving, it just all cascades back and momentum keeps it going.
This is not a fifteen-second contest, let alone a fifteen minute one. Othismos was not a scrum analogue.
This is not a fifteen-second contest, let alone a fifteen minute one. Othismos was not a scrum analogue.
Yep! There is a critical flight from the centre in this thing: nothing on battle, march, siege, mercenaries or naval warfare. Many of the chapters are valuable but it is passing strange to have an entire volume on Greek warfare that never once discusses, say, agonal warfare or othismos
October 15, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Yep! There is a critical flight from the centre in this thing: nothing on battle, march, siege, mercenaries or naval warfare. Many of the chapters are valuable but it is passing strange to have an entire volume on Greek warfare that never once discusses, say, agonal warfare or othismos
THE BRONZE HOPLITE PANOPLY AND THE OTHISMOS IN THE EARLY PHALANX | Greece & Rome | Cambridge Core
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
THE BRONZE HOPLITE PANOPLY AND THE OTHISMOS IN THE EARLY PHALANX | Greece & Rome | Cambridge Core
THE BRONZE HOPLITE PANOPLY AND THE OTHISMOS IN THE EARLY PHALANX - Volume 72 Issue 2
www.cambridge.org
September 17, 2025 at 6:59 PM
THE BRONZE HOPLITE PANOPLY AND THE OTHISMOS IN THE EARLY PHALANX | Greece & Rome | Cambridge Core
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
If I see the word ‘othismos’ one more time I’m going to lose it.
March 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
If I see the word ‘othismos’ one more time I’m going to lose it.
PS Historical game designers. Bret's economic history acumen shines through. It's almost like he writes things systemically intentionally just for game designers to have their history in great form for a game. That's certainly been the case in his peasant series. Plus, he's an excellent writer!
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
November 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
PS Historical game designers. Bret's economic history acumen shines through. It's almost like he writes things systemically intentionally just for game designers to have their history in great form for a game. That's certainly been the case in his peasant series. Plus, he's an excellent writer!
Absolutely agree that othismos is not a scrum analogue but what always gets me is just - imagine one man with a hand free and a knife, what damage he could do even in 10 seconds just stabbing wildly over the tops of shields.
Hoplite battles simply don't have those kinds of casualties.
Hoplite battles simply don't have those kinds of casualties.
November 23, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Absolutely agree that othismos is not a scrum analogue but what always gets me is just - imagine one man with a hand free and a knife, what damage he could do even in 10 seconds just stabbing wildly over the tops of shields.
Hoplite battles simply don't have those kinds of casualties.
Hoplite battles simply don't have those kinds of casualties.
If you have an interest in history (esp military, in particular "roman era" [painting broadly, because Greece, Macedon, etc]) you really ought to read @bretdevereaux.bsky.social.
If for nothing else the footnotes.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
If for nothing else the footnotes.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part I: The Othismos over Othismos
This week (and next) we’re looking at hoplites, the heavy infantry of the ancient Greek poleis in the (early? mid? late?) Archaic and Classical periods, into the Hellenistic. In particular, I…
acoup.blog
February 16, 2026 at 9:22 PM
If you have an interest in history (esp military, in particular "roman era" [painting broadly, because Greece, Macedon, etc]) you really ought to read @bretdevereaux.bsky.social.
If for nothing else the footnotes.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...
If for nothing else the footnotes.
acoup.blog/2025/11/14/c...