[[Image:Hoplites.jpg|thumb|right]]
The '''Hoplites''' (Greek:ὁπλίτης) were [[Greek]] heavy Infantry during the period around 6th to 2nd century BCEBC.
The hoplite armor was quite varied. Most hoplites were millitas that were conscripted by the state in times of need - the armor hoplites was nothing more than the clothes on their back. As city states grew richer, they could afford better equipment - thus most "middle class" hoplites in later times would've been equipped with linothorax (harded linen armor) or leather. Only the rich upper class could afford quality armor such as bronze. These hoplites wore full-face helmets probably made of [[bronze]] and wielded a heavy shield of wood covered in bronze. Their preferred weapon was a [[spear]], and a short sword as a backup weapon. In battle they often used the phalanx formation, which was essentially a wall of overlapping shields and spears and they moved as a cohesive unit. The name derives from ''Hoplon'', the formal name of their [[shield]]s. The shield was commonly known as an [[Aspis]].