The Great Peloponnesian War

This is Leonidas quote at Thermopylae--but not exactly like that. When Xerxes sent an ambassador to ask Greeks surrender their weapons, Leonidas answered; "Come and get them!"

At the time, Spartan hoplites still used bronze cuirasses. The lighter linen armour was not adopted very extensively at the time.

Thucydides of course! (If you mean the right war )

 

Yeah I got it right (yay!)

I think the Saprtans still had the metal armour. I'll ask my teacher next day.

 

Thanks McRis... That quote was always a bit hazy in my memory.

The point about the armour was made only to show that it wasn't a big advantage on the part of the Greeks at Thermopylae and shouldn't be weighed too heavily.

 

the persian army was the best at the times , there were levies from all over
including ionans greeks fighting for their emperor and half naked warriors
from weird corners of the empire

the main persian army , particularly the imperial guard of the immortals,
were very well trained and equiped with chain mail , shield , spear , bow
and sword
they could build siege engines , dam rivers and dig fortifications , the
princes and sons of important personnage were trained hard as soldiers from
infancy to " shoot the bow and tell the truth "
they had conquered the land between pakistan and turkey , they were
at the peak of their military power and a fearsome enemy out for revenge
against the greeks .


.

 

As far as i know, the Persians always preferred to bribe the garrison of sieged towns and forts and succeeded most of the times(well, since their gold was practically unlimited...). Otherwise, they preferred to starve the defenders out.
Thus, their knowledge on siege warfare was seriously crippled.

 

The persians had a pretty good idea of the cost of a campaign ,
quite cripling in those days of primitive taxation,
buying out the opposition was a cheap and effective way to deal with
greeks

one of the benefit of being the egemonic power is that your currency ,
if half decent , become the monetary standard accepted everywhere ,
even by your enemies

the greeks were notoriously corrupt and greedy ,their politics chaotic
and fickle , athene in particular had the deplorable habit of exiling its best
leaders all the time

the great king bought quite a few greek politicians with persian gold darics
at some time or other most of the greek leaders , in cluding themistocles ,
a couple of spartan kings found themselves in persepolis begging the
persians for military support against their own country .



:roll:

 

It depends in which period you're referring for as far as corruption is concerned. Most of northern Greece(Macedonia,Thrace) as well as Thessaly, during the Persian Wars, weren't subdued due to corruption but simply because they were weak and could not oppose the Persians. However, after the Peloponnesean War corruption and decline was obvious in most city states--including Sparta which was greatly helped against Athens being supplied with Persian gold...

As far as exile is concerned, in Athens they believed that when a man gained too much power--enough to threaten democracy--all Athenian men should vote whether he could stay or sent to exile. If the latter was decided, the "accused" left for 20 years. It was not something uncommon for neither the people nor the exiled.

Also, about Themistocles, when he was exiled,left for the Persian court so he was not bought by the Persians. Also, he didn't was the case of Demaratos--whom if the Persian King listened, the Greeks would have a very tough fight against the Persians--and in the end he committed suicide.

 

Wasn't it Athens that recieved Persian gold, with which it could hire Iphikrates' mercenaries during the Corinthian War?

 

The Spartan quote was Molon Lave: come and get them

and it was in reference to King Xerxes request to the Spartans to lay down there arms and surrender

For a good reference work Paul Cartledge has the book Thermopylae: The battle that changed the world.
and
The Spartans
also by Mr. Cartledge

Map of Thermopylae (very basic, but you get the idea)
http://www.usfca.edu/classes/AuthEd/Set.Goes/SStudies/Thermopylae/map.html

Slightly better map (although rotated 90 degrees)
http://www.herodotuswebsite.co.uk/maps/Thermopylae.jpg

 

Yes,it did--i was expecting someone,anyway, to point that out... Athens also rebuilt its walls with the "help" of Persian gold. I just referred to Sparta as a clear sign of corruption.

Yep ... In Greek "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ"

Also, some pictures of the battlefield today;
1st picture shows the area of Thermopylae as it is today. At the time of the battle the coastline was situated,at most, where the road is seen.
2nd picture shows the Spartans' and Thespians' last stand--the small hill of Colonos.

 

cool pics and maps , mcris ... thanks