Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The long lance used by the Macedonian phalanx. It was eighteen feet long in the time of Philip and Alexander, but was later shortened to fourteen. In the later writings of the middle ages the same name is given to the long lances then in use.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a long
pike used in the traditionalGreek phalanx formation.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word sarissa.
Examples
-
He lined up his veteran Macedonians and with their deadly sarissa formation attacked the pursuing Thebans.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
If even one infantryman swung his sarissa too far to the left or right, the whole line would become hopelessly tangled.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
The sarissa was made to destroy hoplites, but the deadly formation would work equally well on barbarian warriors charging the Macedonian lines.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
The sarissa spear formation used by Philip and Alexander.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
But control of the sarissa was made possible by the elimination of heavy armor and weapons so that Macedonian foot soldiers, unlike their Greek or barbarian counterparts, could use both hands to hold and thrust their spears to deadly effect.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
With their speed and maneuverability, well-armed horsemen could be an effective counter to the Macedonian foot soldiers and their sarissa spears.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
If the foot soldiers of Macedonia with their long sarissa spears came up against the Persians, the troops of the Great King would lose.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
The answer lay in a brilliant innovation developed by Philip—the sarissa.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
Standard hoplite spears were eight to ten feet in length, but the sarissa was almost eighteen feet long.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
-
He lined up his infantry in deep formation with their long sarissa spears aimed square at the woods in front of them.
Alexander the Great Philip Freeman 2011
hernesheir commented on the word sarissa
Also sarisa.
September 1, 2010
bilby commented on the word sarissa
Would be useful for picking mangoes.
July 5, 2021
plethora commented on the word sarissa
You mean sweet mangs?
July 10, 2021