this is exactly what I envision everytime I read that some ancient civilization trained their little kids for battle
There’s a kid in the front row with a Titus Pullo mindset. See what I mean:
That “Rome” clip just had a shield wall, so here’s the testudo (turtle) scene from “The Eagle”.
In fact the Roman army had a proper tactic
which didn’t involve “Fall back!” or “Run!”
for dealing with cavalry attacks – including chariots, which weren’t common and mostly weren’t used like this anyway, being either battle-taxis for nobility who would then dismount, or mobile archery platforms.
That Roman tactic was (surprise!) a modified testudo bristling with spearpoints – imagine this small re-enactment squad as a 500-man cohort…
…so was actually more like a hedgehog…
…which as everyone knows can never be buggered at all, or at least only after the most determined effort.
Arrangements like this only worked if everyone kept formation. Are you listening, Pullo? (And you too, kid in the front rank!)
