The phoulkon (Greek: φοῦλκον), in Latin fulcum, was an infantry formation utilized by the military of the late Roman and Byzantine Empire.
[4] The only other early Byzantine author to use the term was Theophanes the Confessor, who describes Rhazates arranging his troops in three phoulka when facing Heraclius's army at the Battle of Nineveh (627).
[5] Later Byzantine writings, such as De velitatione bellica and Praecepta Militaria, describe keeping a portion of troops, either cavalry or infantry, in phoulka to serve as guard while the rest of the army dispersed for pillaging or foraging.
[citation needed] Ancient Greek "εφελκίς", "εφέλκιον" (efelkis, efelkion), scab of a sore, the protective crust formed over a wound, word used also to describe a defensive shield formation.
Compare the description of the Strategikon with earlier accounts: If the enemy [cavalry], coming within a bow shot, attempts to break or dislodge the phalanx ... then the infantry close up in the regular manner.
The third man, standing more upright, and the fourth, holding their spears like javelins either stab those coming close or hurl them and draw their swords.