The Greek hoplite, the archetypal spear-armed warrior, is perhaps the
most prevalent figure in our view of the 'Golden Age' of Ancient Greek
civilisation. It was during this period that the state began to take
greater responsibility for military organisation, and the arming and
equipping of its citizens. From the victory at Marathon over Darius of
Persia (490 BC), through bitter inter-state warfare, to the rise of
Philip of Macedonia and his son Alexander the Great, the hoplite soldier
was in the front-line. This title narrates the life and experiences of
the common Greek warrior, how he was recruited, trained and fought, and
also looks in detail at how his weapons, armour, shields and helmets
developed in the course of time.