The shields of the hoplites in it were ranged to form a defensive front, allowing the formation to charge into an opposing line.
In its use in the 8th-through 5th century BCE, its proponents seemed to agree that an eight-rank-deep grouping was most effective. This was likely due to the common length of the doru used by its members, which is thought to have been about 7-9 feet, allowing the spearpoints of its first three lines to precede it. The shields of the hoplites in it were ranged to form a defensive front, allowing the formation to charge into an opposing line. Used to great effect at Marathon and later by Alexander the Great, for 10 points, name this military formation of ancient Greece with a name derived from the word for "finger."
In its use in the 8th-through 5th century BCE, its proponents seemed to agree that an eight-rank-deep grouping was most effective.
{phalanx}