Sarissa

Sarissa was a long spear used by ancient Macedonian and Greek soldiers around the 4th century BCE. Typically measuring about 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet), it served as both a weapon and a formation tool in battle. Soldiers would line up closely, creating a wall of spear points that was difficult for enemies to breach. The sarissa’s length gave soldiers extended reach, allowing them to attack from a safe distance. It played a key role in the success of armies like Alexander the Great’s, enabling coordinated, powerful phalanx formations that dominated warfare in that era.