I have been told about Alexander and I am adding my part on the talk about his sexuality. Greek army generals had the belief that they were not worthy to lead troops until they, 'bung-holed' a boy. Thank g-d that isn't the case now.
And on the case of the sarissa's length. I have heard that the
average sarissa was 18ft. long. I wouldn't doubt that they would be shortened for mountain warfare, or that they might of been made in a rush, but I know the sarissa to be usually 18ft. long.
Great picture of a 256 (16x16) Sarissa unit
My favorite formation is the Gates defensive formation. Defensive formations made a unit timid (it still does), Attacking gave them corrage (it still does), and if a unit could hold this formation and still be worthy of it's orchestras, then it was a good unit.
By the way I'm new and this place is great for someone like me to learn more about war tactics present
and past.