The ancient Greeks perfected the art of war, rejecting ambush, crop devastation, ritual conflict, or combat between heroes for a ferocious, brutal and very destructive head-on clash between armed men of all ages and from every part of the polis. This study draws on the evidence of poetry, drama, vases and historical records to reveal the infantryman's views on the armour and weapons he used, the commanders and causes he served, and the horror of the wounds he was likely to receive.