phalanx
Greek infantry block
A phalanx is a tight rectangular formation of soldiers with overlapping shields and extended spears, used by ancient Greek armies.
The word extends to any close-packed group moving as a unit: A phalanx of reporters surrounded the senator.
In anatomy, phalanges are the bones of the fingers and toes—arranged in rows like soldiers.
Plural: phalanxes or phalanges.
Ancient Greek heavy infantry
- shield-wallInterlocked defensive battle formation
- spearmanWarrior wielding long pole-weapon
- pikemenSoldiers armed with long-shafted weapons
- testudoRoman protective shield array
tortoise · rank-and-file · column · line · echelon · interlocking · shields · spears
Handheld defensive armor
- protectionGuarding against harm
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- guardWatchful defensive attention
resistance · armor · wall · barrier · rampart · bastion · stronghold · impenetrable
Great number, or soldiers
- infantryGround combat troops
- cohortGroup sharing circumstances
- manipleLiturgical forearm garment
- battalionMid-sized military unit
hoplite · warfare · battleline · engagement · army · troop · squadron · platoon
Wholeness through cohesion
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- allianceFormal union of parties
- comradeshipMutual loyalty among companions
collectivism · cooperation · support · partnership · camaraderie · collaboration · fellowship · loyalty
Deliberate tactical movement
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- flankingAt the sides of
- envelopmentAct of surrounding completely
pincer · advance · charge · push · breakthrough · holding · anchoring · defensive
Situated nearest the origin
- distalRemote from point of attachment
- metacarpalsBones connecting wrist to fingers
- metatarsalsMidfoot long bones
- jointsSkeletal connection points
fingers · toes · knuckles · ligaments · tendons · articulation · sesamoid · carpals
hoplites
Ancient Greek heavy infantry
- shield-wallInterlocked defensive battle formation
- spearmanWarrior wielding long pole-weapon
- pikemenSoldiers armed with long-shafted weapons
testudo · tortoise · rank-and-file · column · line · echelon · interlocking · shields · spears · pikes
shield
Handheld defensive armor
- protectionGuarding against harm
- bulwarkDefensive fortification or safeguard
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
guard · resistance · armor · wall · barrier · rampart · bastion · stronghold · impenetrable · massed
legion
Great number, or soldiers
battalion · hoplite · warfare · battleline · engagement · army · troop · squadron · platoon · regiment
unity
Wholeness through cohesion
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- brotherhoodKinship among men
- allianceFormal union of parties
comradeship · collectivism · cooperation · support · partnership · camaraderie · collaboration · fellowship · loyalty · bonding
maneuver
Deliberate tactical movement
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- flankingAt the sides of
envelopment · pincer · advance · charge · push · breakthrough · holding · anchoring · defensive · offensive
proximal
Situated nearest the origin
- distalRemote from point of attachment
- metacarpalsBones connecting wrist to fingers
- metatarsalsMidfoot long bones
joints · fingers · toes · knuckles · ligaments · tendons · articulation · sesamoid · carpals · tarsals
- body partsarm, leg, hand, back, chest
- ancient worldancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, pyramids, pyramid
- chesscheck, pawns, knights, rooks, pawn
- Classical AntiquityAncient Greece, Ancient Rome, Greeks, Romans, Roman Empire
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- animal partsappendage, forelimb, hind leg, hind legs, hindlegs
phalanxrabble
Disorderly, noisy crowd
disarray · dispersal · mob · disorder · scattering
phalanxchaos
Complete disorder and confusion
disunity · rabble · lone wolves · free agents · anarchy
phalanxskirmishers
Light troops in loose formation
open order · guerrillas · light infantry · velites · irregulars