Pdf the battle of plataea 479 bc antonis mistriotis academia. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek index. Speeches in herodotus account of the battle of plataea lieselotte solmsen t he many scenes of direct speech which we find in the first books of herodotus are largely anecdotal. More moderate estimates claim that the allied multination persian force, almost half of whom were greek collaborators, totalled 110,000.
It was the location of the battle of plataea in 479 bc, in which an alliance of greek citystates defeated the persians. I argue here that helots did indeed fight in the battle. Table of contents johns hopkins university press books. Plutarch rewrites the battle of plataea 6 herodotus. The pivotal event of the history is the battle of marathon 490 bce, where the persians were defeated by the greeks. According to herodotus, the athenians insist that their compatriots must send their fleets to salamis, a small island just opposite the athenian harbors. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. The peloponnesians attack plataea instead of invading attica. According to this consensus, herodotus 300,000 persians at plataea would selfevidently. King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. Helots at the battle of plataea introduction herodotus reports repeatedly that thirtyfive thousand helots accompanied five thousand spartiates at the battle of plataea hdt.
Battle of plataea simple english wikipedia, the free. In 480 bc, a large persian army led by xerxes invaded greece. On this day, miltiades had a radical plan, to thin their line to match that of the persians and to run at full pace at the persian army 2. Persian wars 2 endgame to the battles of thermopylae. On the battle of plataea, which is what interests us here, herodotus gives at least twice the persian army as 300,000. Apr 08, 2019 the battle thermopylae 480 bc herodotus histories. Plataea was destroyed in the peloponnesian war by thebes and sparta in 427 bc, and rebuilt in 386. The sicilian historian diodorus siculus, writing in the 1st century bc in his bibliotheca historica, also provides an account of the battle of mykale, derived directly from the earlier greek historian ephorus. Spartas many hesitations during the persian invasions continue in one form or another even after the battle at plataea begins since they delay any attack until. Ironically, plataea was the decisive battle that ended the persian invasion and a battle where issue was in doubt until the final day. It was a decisive victory for the greeks as it ended that war.
Plataea is the most decisive battle of the grecopersian wars. Mar 07, 2014 the battle of plataea, which was the greatest land battle of the classical era, is presented under a new perspective. This contains eight cities not named in herodotus, book 9. Herodotus presents the greek camp similarly to an army arranged in battle. The captains therefore held a council, whereat it was agreed, that if the persians did not give battle that day, the greeks should move to the island a tract of ground which lies in front of plataea, at the distance of ten furlongs from the asopus and fount gargaphia, where the army was encamped at that time. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay.
He gives an account of the battle of mycale in book nine of his histories. The heroic battles near athens at marathon 490 bce, thermopylae, salamis, and. Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an enormous scale by both land and sea. They are speeches which belong to the novel or the short tale, speeches which stress a striking development or bring out an unusual thought or witticism. The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus. Falling back, greek forces fortified the isthmus of corinth to prevent the persians from entering the peloponnesus. Hope you guys enjoy, as always please feel free to leave a commentand i apologise for the sunglasses joke lol if you want to do your own. Herodotus was called the father of history by cicero.
Stallings was born in 1968 and currently resides in athens, greece. Naumachia tes salaminos was a naval battle fought between an alliance of greek citystates under themistocles, and the persian empire under king xerxes in 480 bc. Aug 24, 2012 translated from tales from herodotus farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. It took place in 479 bc near the city of plataea in boeotia, and was fought between an alliance of the greek citystates including sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of xerxes i allied with boeotians, thessalians, and macedonians. Spartas last stance is one of the most important battles during the persian war and one of the great mysteries of ancient history. The battle of plataea, which was the greatest land battle of the classical era, is presented under a new perspective. Classical quarterly 48 ii 365379 1998 printed in great britain 365 simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of thermopylae in adapting the story of the great war to the taste of his own age ephoros, himself a pupil of isokrates and a professional historian, was led astray by the combined influences of rhetoric.
On several occasions in this book, herodotus is also left without a source, and thus has to rely on his own opinions 9. Alone the 10,000 athenians stood against 20,000 persian troops for five days until miltiades chose to attack the persians. Also see the sources used for the last video, as well as any general history book which covers the 5th. The battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece. In his histories, herodotus discusses that the persians adopted many foreign customs, including their dress. Ill link to these two good summaries of the battle again which can be found at and ancient greek battles. The persians had been forced to make new plans after salamis, but after plataea they are ejected from greece entirely. He wrote about the ancient empires of babylon, egypt, and persia, and about the ancient greeks. Herodotus s history is an account of the grecopersian wars 499479 bce and the story of the growth and organization of the persian empire. Preparations the battle of plataea decided the final defeat of the persian army. Thoughts on book 9 of the histories of herodotus first. Explicitly, the histories deal with the persian wars, the greeks double defeat of the formidable forces led against them by the persian. In 479 bc plataea was the site of the final battle that repelled the second persian invasion of greece. Maybe herodotus nostalgia and rebukes center on the display of athens and sparta fighting on the same side since overall greek unity is not always a key selling point at plataea.
Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an. Marathon thermopylae tour herodotus history tourgreece taxi. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek, tr. Herodotus describes several engagements that take place on several days. Simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of thermopylae volume 48 issue 2 michael a. Jan 20, 2012 ironically, plataea was the decisive battle that ended the persian invasion and a battle where issue was in doubt until the final day. I am covering paragraphs 33 through 89 of book nine for this post. In the aforementioned paragraph pausanias lists the names on the offering to zeus at olympia, which exclude four cities inscribed on the serpentine column.
Though this book is titled improperly, it is still an engaging reference for the entire war, and would serve as a good introduction for the student who is learning about the grecopersian war for the first time. It was fought between the greek allies the citystates, of sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. The battle of plataea was a land battle between greeks and persians. This post covers the battle of plataea after the first day of fighting as well as the immediate aftermath. He also gives us info on what happened inside mardoniuss staff. Histories book 9 the battle of plataea summary course hero. After this, the athenians, having marched to plataea, brought in provisions and left a garrison behind, and they took away those men most unfit for military service together with the women and children. Herodotus tells us that persian casualties were over 250,000 which is certainly an exaggeration but it was certainly a bloody affair the famous roman defeat at cannae in 216 bc. This account is fairly consistent with herodotus s. Farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint. The campaign and the battle of marathon the journal of.
Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions. Divided by later editors into nine books named after the muses. If you want to do your own reading on this battle, look at herodotus book 9. Ancient plataea eternal greece ltdeternal greece ltd. Plutarch rewrites the battle of plataea 6 herodotus in renaissance france. Simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the persians have conquered, fairy tales, gossip, and legends. A persian cavalry squadron tries to provoke the greek contingent from megara, but is defeated. The plataea oath as a document of ancient greek religion 4. During his life, herodotus probably told his stories in front of large numbers of people in greek cities. This astonishing story presents one of the most perplexing problems in spartan history. The battle for the west, part ii will now cover the remaining books 1425. How herodotus might have come to know about the battle of.
Classical quarterly 48 ii 365379 1998 printed in great britain 365 simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of thermopylae in adapting the story of the great war to the taste of his own age ephoros, himself a pupil of. The battle was in 479 bc near the city of plataea in boeotia. He explained the campaign pretty well and gives us a good strategic understanding of the situation. As for book nine, the main event, of course, is the battle of plataea 479 bc, the last major episode in the persian wars. W fornara, the nature of history in ancient greece and rome berkeley, 1983, p. The modern greek town of plataies is built near its ruins. Herodotus simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A discussion of a theban feast before the battle of plataea, mentioned in book 9 of the histories of herodotus. Herodotus lays out the history of egypt until the reign of amasis, the pharaoh that cambyses will defeat in histories.
According to herodotus, the spartan general pausanias led an allied greek defense against mardonius persian forces. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention. By and large, the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories was an extremely notable and remarkable battle for the history of the west, as well as the world. Although they were vastly outnumbered, the greeks were able to kill mardonius. Following the persian defeat at the naval battle of salamis the previous year detailed in book eight, the persian king xerxes hightails it back to asia, leaving his general mardonius in.
Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian. He states they have taken the dress of the medes, considering it superior to their own. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors pylae. Around noon we depart for thebes to visit plataea battle fields and drive through mount cithaeron to elefsis. The presence of herodotus histories in josephus writings 5 history without malice. Later in book 9, when describing aristodemuss fighting at plataea herodotus refers to him with the words. Speeches in herodotus account of the battle of plataea jstor. One can only wonder what the world would have been like if the nascent greek democracy and high classical.
Herodotus prejudices, it is extraordinary how little evidence there is of eulogy or parti pris in his account of marathon. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the persians have conquered, fairy tales. Chapter summary for herodotus s histories, book 9 the battle of plataea summary. Parallel englishgreek forgotten books herodotus on. The greeks then advanced to the northwest, just south of the. An army of greeks from many cities assembles and moves to join up at plataea where they will fight the persians. The battle for impeachment, part i, which covered the books 1 of distinguished author and historian ernle bradfords masterpiece, thermopylae. Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. Plataea begins directly after the close of the battle of salamis with mardonius speech in viii. The greeks have assembled a massive army, composed of contingents from around greece. In the histories, he describes the expansion of the achaemenid empire under its kings cyrus the great, cambyses, and darius i the great, culminating in xerxes expedition to greece 480 bce, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at salamis and the battles at plataea and mycale. Herodotus attempts to relate the whole history of the kings of egypt, although he does not describe all 350 pharaohs he claims have ruled the country. It was fought between the greek allies the citystates, of sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of xerxes i.
Her latest collection, olives was published in 2012, and her poem the last carousel, aftermath. We visit delphi and the oracle of apollo which the greeks would consult before battles. It took place in 479 bce near the city of plataea in boeotia. A decade later the persians, led by xerxes, returned but were decisively defeated at the battle of plataea in 479 bce. This was complete madness to the persians but it countered the cavalry and archers which the persians were known for. The exact words of herodotus are carefully analysed in order to better understand the battle tactics and reason the outcome. The vast persian empire stretched from the danube to egypt and from ionia to bactria, and xerxes was able to draw on a huge reserve of resources to amass his huge invasion force. Persian wars 2 endgame to the battles of thermopylae and salamis 480 bce and plataea 479 bce to view. Explicitly, the histories deal with the persian wars, the greeks double defeat of the.
Herodotus magnificent writing have vividly explained one of the most exceptional battles, in addition to showing the world the incredible greek society, and the ever so. May 02, 20 todays video is about the battle of plataea. One can only wonder what the world would have been like if. Battle of thermopylae leonidas battle of salamis battle of plataea. Thermopylae, the battle for the west is instead a good, concise recap of the grecopersian war.
With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. Though briefly checked during the opening phases of the battle of thermopylae in august, he eventually won the engagement and swept through boeotia and attica capturing athens. In the ninth book, he puts a speech in the mouth of the athenians at plataea, where they claim the honour of the left wing because they had all alone defeated fortysix nations at marathon. Histories book 2 the history of egypt summary course hero. The legacy of plataea further reading bibliography. The history of herodotus book i the first book of the histories, called clio this is the showing forth of the inquiry of herodotus of halicarnassos, to the end that1 neither the deeds of men may be forgotten by lapse of time, nor the works 2 great and marvellous, which have been produced some by hellenes and some by barbarians, may. The battle the battle of mycale royal love affairs the siege of sestus and the conclusion of herodotus history. Herodotus probably talked to someone close to mardonius. Which were the most violent or bloodiest battles in. The book about battle of plataea by william shepherd proves to be a pretty good book on the subject. No ancient writer could withstand the combined assaults of wilamowitz, schwartz, and jacoby, who made ephorus the incarnation of all that was objectionable in greek historiography. He therefore planned to retreat to thebes and do battle where he had a. Home cities athens corinth delphi olympia battles marathon thermopylae salamis plataea.
Obviously he had talked to someone on mardonius staff. Presumably, had he asked the helots about the battle of plataea, they would have incorrectly reported that the soldiers died bearing bronze rather than gold. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its. It took place in 479 bc near the city of plataea in boeotia, and was fought between an alliance of the greek citystates including sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of xerxes i. Herodotus covers the empires geography, social structure, and history before describing the events which led to xerxes invasion of greece and the greek citystates uniting to defeat his army. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated. The most glorious victory ever seen campaign shepherd, william, dennis, peter on. Herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. Ten years after the defeat of the persians at marathon in 490 b.
He was born at halicarnassus, a town in southwest asia minor now bodrum, turkey, probably in 484 bc. Jan 23, 2020 the battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece. Baggage trains and mysterious strangers plataea, part ii. Speeches in herodotus account of the battle of plataea. The next logos opens with a description of a serious quarrel between the greek admirals. To read the history herodotus only book is to seek ones roots as a. In august of 480, there occurs the battle of thermopylae, which is actually takes several days. Simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of thermopylae.
The battles of plataea and mycale and the siege of sestus the stones of salamis the road to plataea plataea, part i. Overall command was now taken by mardonius, the sonin law and nephew of darius and cousin of xerxes. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. He begins the account of the day of battle at plataea at chapter 50 with the persians attacking the greek water source, and ends it with the greek attack on the persian camp in chapter 70 herodotus, 9.
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