Two-Headed Spear (Homer)

[Pbartender]

He-he, I think I must not have been clear enough. I wasn't asking about a two-pronged spear, but a double-weapon, effectively. I'm pretty sure, now, that what Homer was calling a two-headed spear was the doru.

Yup... That's most likely it. The Spartans used them in their phalanxes. As the wikipedia entry mentioned, the "lizard-sticker" was mainly used to finish off wounded enemies (without having to shift your grip) as the formation advanced over them. Or, if the spear shaft broke, which was not an uncommon thing to have happen, you reverse the spear to give yourself a shorter, but still usable weapon.

 

[GreatLemur]

http://www.google.com/search?q="double headed spear"
http://images.google.com/images?q="double headed spear"

Interesting. I do believe I recognize this art. And also this art, now that I go looking around a bit. I kind of have to question the accuracy of any site that details the historical role of the dire flail.

 

[pawsplay]

He-he, I think I must not have been clear enough. I wasn't asking about a two-pronged spear, but a double-weapon, effectively. I'm pretty sure, now, that what Homer was calling a two-headed spear was the doru.

Why are you so sure Homer was referring to a double weapon and not a pronged weapon?

 

[Hjorimir]

Oh, I'm not "so sure" of that, but when I look up military fork and see that it was used between the 15th and 19th century I don't think I'm complete off base either. If I knew about the subject matter I wouldn't have posted in the first place!

 

[Pbartender]

Here's an image of an hoplite with a doru...

 

[Hjorimir]

Here's an image of an hoplite with a doru...

Hey, Pbartender (while I got your attention), would you reply to this thread? http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=174110&page=2

I'm basically begging you for a dummies step-by-step on that beautiful city map you did!

/hijackoff

(Heh, I hijacked my own thread!)

Edit: Wow, how many typos can you have in one sentance? A lot says I!

 

[BASHMAN]

no, No, NO! It is not a military fork, it is not some wacky sci-fi space weapon, it is a real historical item.

A two-headed spear simply has a spearhead on both ends of the shaft. One is much smaller than the other (more of a spike than a true spearhead). The reason for this was twofold. The small spike helped ancor the spear in the ground against a charge (as we know the greeks as well as many other real-earth cultures DID use a 6'long spear as a 1-handed weapon, contrary to D&D rules.). The spike allowed them to hold it vs. a charge quite well even with only 1 hand, so they could use the other hand to hold up their massive shields (which are something between a large shield and a tower shield, again, unsupported by D&D rules).

The secondary purpose was as a backup weapon if their first spear-head was sundered. I would treat this second spike as the D&D short-spear, because it actually was a crap weapon (unlike the main spear-head which should be a d8 dmg x3 crit weapon).

The name of this type of spear used by the Greeks is the Doru. You can read all about it here As you can see, it is definitely not that crappy 3.5 shortspear. It is a decent weapon, like the 3.5 "spear" would be if it was allowed to be 1-handed martial instead of only 2-handed simple.

 

[BASHMAN]

He-he, I think I must not have been clear enough. I wasn't asking about a two-pronged spear, but a double-weapon, effectively. I'm pretty sure, now, that what Homer was calling a two-headed spear was the doru.

It is not a double weapon. You didn't see people spinning their spears around in combat and doing no-look attacks behind them with the secondary spear head like you'd see in a kung-fu movie. The second spearhead was a backup weapon & used for stability vs. a charge. That is it.

 

[pawsplay]

http://www.ninjaturtles.com/toys/2005/combatwarriorgear/don.html

I am Combat Warrior Donatello, master of the two-headed spear! I have worked, studied and trained hard to learn and master the secrets of ninjitsu! I put on my bandana, budoka belt and elbow pads, arm myself with my shuriken throwing stars and trusty two-headed spear with its psych-out purple war ribbons and I am ready for action! I am Combat Warrior Donatello... and I am ninja!

 

[Pbartender]

Heym, Pbartender, while I got your attention), would you reply to this thread? http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=174110&page=2

I'm basically begging you for a dummies step-by-step on that beautiful city map you did!

Done.