"ephodos": the hoplites stop singing their "pæanes" (battle hymns) and move towards the enemy, gradually picking up pace and momentum. in the instants before impact, war cries ("alalagmœ", sing. "alalagmos") would be made. notable war cries were the athenian ("elelelelef! elelelelef!") and the macedonian ("alalalalai! alalalalai!") alalagmœ.