hoplite

In ancient Greece, a heavily armed infantry soldier (as distinct from the lightly armed peltast). They were the backbone of the army in all the Greek city-states from the 6th to the 4th century BC.

The defensive armour of the hoplites included a bronze helmet, breastplate, greaves, and a round shield; their offensive weapons were an iron sword and a long spear. The emergence of the hoplites led to important changes in Greek social and political systems, as they replaced the predominantly aristocratic cavalry as the chief element in Greek armies.

At Athens, Solon made the hoplites the third census (property) class, below the hippeis (cavalry) and above the thetes (poorest class of free men). They served as the Athenian heavy infantry, and after the reforms of Cleisthenes were brigaded in 10 tribal contingents each under their own commander.