In ancient Greece, a 'Hoplite' was a heavily armed infantry soldier who fought in a phalanx formation. They were equipped with a large round shield called a hoplon, a spear, and a short sword. Hoplites were mostly citizens who fought for their city-state, and they formed the backbone of Greek armies. The phalanx formation, which involved soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder with their shields overlapping, was highly effective in battle and allowed them to resist enemy charges. Hoplites played a significant role in ancient Greek warfare, and their legacy remains an important aspect of Greek history and culture.