Home cities athens corinth delphi olympia battles marathon thermopylae salamis plataea. 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. Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. Battle of thermopylae leonidas battle of salamis battle of plataea. Marathon thermopylae tour herodotus history tourgreece taxi. The battles of plataea and mycale and the siege of sestus the stones of salamis the road to plataea plataea, part i. According to herodotus, the athenians insist that their compatriots must send their fleets to salamis, a small island just opposite the athenian harbors. 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. Ill link to these two good summaries of the battle again which can be found at and ancient greek battles. The battle of plataea, which was the greatest land battle of the classical era, is presented under a new perspective. An army of greeks from many cities assembles and moves to join up at plataea where they will fight the persians. 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. This account is fairly consistent with herodotus s. Explicitly, the histories deal with the persian wars, the greeks double defeat of the formidable forces led against them by the persian.
The book about battle of plataea by william shepherd proves to be a pretty good book on the subject. The peloponnesians attack plataea instead of invading attica. It was the location of the battle of plataea in 479 bc, in which an alliance of greek citystates defeated the persians. A decade later the persians, led by xerxes, returned but were decisively defeated at the battle of plataea in 479 bce. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek index. 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. Falling back, greek forces fortified the isthmus of corinth to prevent the persians from entering the peloponnesus. He wrote about the ancient empires of babylon, egypt, and persia, and about the ancient greeks. Later in book 9, when describing aristodemuss fighting at plataea herodotus refers to him with the words. 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. 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. 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. Ironically, plataea was the decisive battle that ended the persian invasion and a battle where issue was in doubt until the final day.
The greeks have assembled a massive army, composed of contingents from around greece. Herodotus was called the father of history by cicero. Pdf the battle of plataea 479 bc antonis mistriotis academia. Parallel englishgreek forgotten books herodotus on. In 480 bc, a large persian army led by xerxes invaded greece. Speeches in herodotus account of the battle of plataea. The exact words of herodotus are carefully analysed in order to better understand the battle tactics and reason the outcome. Herodotus lays out the history of egypt until the reign of amasis, the pharaoh that cambyses will defeat in histories. Which were the most violent or bloodiest battles in. He also gives us info on what happened inside mardoniuss staff. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated. On several occasions in this book, herodotus is also left without a source, and thus has to rely on his own opinions 9.
How herodotus might have come to know about the battle of. A persian cavalry squadron tries to provoke the greek contingent from megara, but is defeated. Plataea was destroyed in the peloponnesian war by thebes and sparta in 427 bc, and rebuilt in 386. 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. 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. Histories book 2 the history of egypt summary course hero. Simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of.
Preparations the battle of plataea decided the final defeat of the persian army. A discussion of a theban feast before the battle of plataea, mentioned in book 9 of the histories of herodotus. The persians had been forced to make new plans after salamis, but after plataea they are ejected from greece entirely. As for book nine, the main event, of course, is the battle of plataea 479 bc, the last major episode in the persian wars. Alone the 10,000 athenians stood against 20,000 persian troops for five days until miltiades chose to attack the persians. He was born at halicarnassus, a town in southwest asia minor now bodrum, turkey, probably in 484 bc.
King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. One can only wonder what the world would have been like if the nascent greek democracy and high classical. Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian. Ancient plataea eternal greece ltdeternal greece ltd. The heroic battles near athens at marathon 490 bce, thermopylae, salamis, and. Around noon we depart for thebes to visit plataea battle fields and drive through mount cithaeron to elefsis. Simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of thermopylae. 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. The modern greek town of plataies is built near its ruins.
During his life, herodotus probably told his stories in front of large numbers of people in greek cities. Herodotus probably talked to someone close to mardonius. 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. The battle of plataea was a land battle between greeks and persians. Divided by later editors into nine books named after the muses.
Plataea or plataia, also plataeae or plataiai, was an ancient city, located in greece in southeastern boeotia, south of thebes. 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. Herodotus describes several engagements that take place on several days. He states they have taken the dress of the medes, considering it superior to their own. Obviously he had talked to someone on mardonius staff.
The campaign and the battle of marathon the journal of. Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. The battle for impeachment, part i, which covered the books 1 of distinguished author and historian ernle bradfords masterpiece, thermopylae. The battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece. It was fought between the greek allies the citystates, of sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of. The most glorious victory ever seen campaign shepherd, william, dennis, peter on. Apr 08, 2019 the battle thermopylae 480 bc herodotus histories. Thoughts on book 9 of the histories of herodotus first. The plataea oath as a document of ancient greek religion 4. 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. The battle was in 479 bc near the city of plataea in boeotia. With the dawn of the day of the battle of salamis in ch. Jan 23, 2020 the battle of plataea was the final land battle during the second persian invasion of greece.
Overall command was now taken by mardonius, the sonin law and nephew of darius and cousin of xerxes. Herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. Speeches in herodotus account of the battle of plataea jstor. 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.
Baggage trains and mysterious strangers plataea, part ii. Farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. In august of 480, there occurs the battle of thermopylae, which is actually takes several days. 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. We visit delphi and the oracle of apollo which the greeks would consult before battles. The battle the battle of mycale royal love affairs the siege of sestus and the conclusion of herodotus history. Plataea begins directly after the close of the battle of salamis with mardonius speech in viii. Ten years after the defeat of the persians at marathon in 490 b. In the aforementioned paragraph pausanias lists the names on the offering to zeus at olympia, which exclude four cities inscribed on the serpentine column. To read the history herodotus only book is to seek ones roots as a. I argue here that helots did indeed fight in the battle.
Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its. 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. Plataea is the most decisive battle of the grecopersian wars. Persian wars 2 endgame to the battles of thermopylae. May 02, 20 todays video is about the battle of plataea. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. 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. According to herodotus, who wrote a lengthy account of the battle of plataea based mainly on the recollections of surviving hoplites, this involved 350,000 persians against 109,200 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. 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.
In 479 bc plataea was the site of the final battle that repelled the second persian invasion of greece. 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. He gives an account of the battle of mycale in book nine of his histories. More moderate estimates claim that the allied multination persian force, almost half of whom were greek collaborators, totalled 110,000. Table of contents johns hopkins university press books. Herodotus presents the greek camp similarly to an army arranged in battle. According to this consensus, herodotus 300,000 persians at plataea would selfevidently. The legacy of plataea further reading bibliography. 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. Mar 07, 2014 the battle of plataea, which was the greatest land battle of the classical era, is presented under a new perspective. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the persians have conquered, fairy tales. He therefore planned to retreat to thebes and do battle where he had a.
Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions. Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an. Aug 24, 2012 translated from tales from herodotus farnell and goff provide a synopsis of the events to this point. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote.
Herodotus simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. I am covering paragraphs 33 through 89 of book nine for this post. Xerxes, who came to the throne in 485, executed another invasion of greece on an enormous scale by both land and sea. If you want to do your own reading on this battle, look at herodotus book 9. 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. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors pylae. Chapter summary for herodotus s histories, book 9 the battle of plataea summary. Plutarch rewrites the battle of plataea 6 herodotus. 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. Herodotus book also contains ethnographic descriptions of the peoples that the persians have conquered, fairy tales, gossip, and legends. The next logos opens with a description of a serious quarrel between the greek admirals.
Histories book 9 the battle of plataea summary course hero. Stallings was born in 1968 and currently resides in athens, greece. This contains eight cities not named in herodotus, book 9. Also see the sources used for the last video, as well as any general history book which covers the 5th. It took place in 479 bce near the city of plataea in boeotia. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. An unfortunate result of his more elaborately worked writing has been failure to understand his words, and hence much misplaced editorial intervention. Her latest collection, olives was published in 2012, and her poem the last carousel, aftermath. It was a decisive victory for the greeks as it ended that war. 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 greeks then advanced to the northwest, just south of the.
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. The battle for the west, part ii will now cover the remaining books 1425. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay. 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. One can only wonder what the world would have been like if. The history of herodotus, parallel englishgreek, tr. 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. 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. 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 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. This post covers the battle of plataea after the first day of fighting as well as the immediate aftermath. Plutarch rewrites the battle of plataea 6 herodotus in renaissance france.
Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint. The battle of plataea battle scene, from the greeks documentary the defeat of the persian navy at salamis in 480 was by no means the end of the war, but it was the decisive battle that made. 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. This astonishing story presents one of the most perplexing problems in spartan history. It was fought between the greek allies the citystates, of sparta, athens, corinth and megara, and the persian empire of xerxes i. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus by. This was complete madness to the persians but it countered the cavalry and archers which the persians were known for. 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. Simonides, ephorus, and herodotus on the battle of thermopylae volume 48 issue 2 michael a. According to herodotus, the spartan general pausanias led an allied greek defense against mardonius persian forces. Spartas last stance is one of the most important battles during the persian war and one of the great mysteries of ancient history. The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus.
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