Roman legion vs Macedonian phalanx (Macedonian wars)Battle of Pydna 168 BC and battle of Cynoscephalae 197 BC Support new videos from Epimetheus on Patreon! Legion, a military organization, originally the largest permanent organization in the armies of ancient Rome. Although both implemented strong organization, they organized their soldiers in a different manner. The maniple was fluid, with each maniple led by centurions who were encouraged to take initiative and lead by example. The term legion also denotes the military system by which imperial Rome conquered and ruled the ancient world. I wanted to compare the two greatest military units in the ancient world, the legion versus the Greek phalanx. Peter Connolly captures the action as the phalanx pins and pushes back the Romans on the level ground. At first, under the Etruscan Kings, the massive Greek phalanx was the mode of battle. The phalanx was best suited for level ground and was vulnerable to loss of cohesion, whereas the legion based on interlocking smaller units was much more adept at holding and reforming formation. The early Roman army, however, was a different thing altogether than the later imperial army. One of the great successes of the legion was its flexibility and mobility: soldiers did not stand shoulder-to-shoulder but rather had several feet of space on all sides. Answer. The Greek Phalanx. READ MORE: Roman Kings, a complete list of the 7 early rulers There are several key differences in the formations. Early Roman soldiers hence must have looked much like Greek hoplites. How was the roman legion different from a Greek phalanx? Top Answer. The phalanx was much more rigid, but overwhelmingly powerful in a frontal assault. Asked by Wiki User. Wiki User Answered . A Roman legion was different from a Greek phalanx in several key ways. 2015-11-30 22:33:12 2015-11-30 22:33:12. Function and ... regarded as Roman legions, and full Roman citizenship was open to all the regions of Italy. Both formations were formed through strict organization of soldiers and commanding officers. A Greek phalanx charging into battle, as peltasts throw spears over the heads of the hoplites. The Roman legion was the largest military unit of ... the republican era legion may have been influenced by the ancient Greek and Macedonian phalanx. by Jeff Jonas. In the foreground, a maniple has exploited a gap in the arrayed pikes of the white shield phalanx. 0 1 2. A Roman legion was different from a Greek phalanx in several key ways. I'm often asked questions such as this: The strength of the Roman legion over the phalanx was less an advantage in weaponry, than it was an advantage in formation flexibility. If Greek armies could have defeated Roman armies they would have, the phalanx as a tactical doctrine was out-dated by the time of Scipio Africanus, out-classed by the days of Caesar. 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