Sarissa

The sarissa or sarisa (Greek: σάρισα) was a 4 to 7 meter (13–21 feet) long spear used in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic warfare. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in the traditional Greek phalanx formation as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter. The phalanxes of Philip II of Macedon were known as Macedonian phalanxes. The word remained in use throughout the Byzantine years to sometimes describe the long spears of the Byzantine infantry.