The phalanx may be placed somewhere.
Phalanx . In Greek texts , the phalanx may be deployed for battle , on the march , even camped , thus describing the mass of infantry or cavalry that would deploy in line during battle . The term itself , as used today , does not refer to a distinctive military unit or division ( e.g. , the Roman legion or the contemporary Western-type battalion ) , but to the general formation of an army 's troops . The word has come into use in common English to describe `` a group of people standing , or moving forward closely together '' ; c.f. `` a phalanx of police '' . This article focuses on the use of the military phalanx formation in Ancient Greece , the Hellenistic world , and other ancient states heavily influenced by Greek civilization .