THE PERSIAN WARS |
*invasion of 480–479 BC: Battles of Thermopylae and Artemisium
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The Battles of THERMOPYLAE and ARTEMISEUM 480BC
Battle Summary: Themopylae
The following video is a very good accont of the Battle of Thermopylae. All About History are actually a company that started out by selling History magazines to young audiences. Hence this video is also meant for the general public, not the higher level academic istorian. But for us it is fine! It gives the main narrative from Herodotus, with not a great deal of analysis.
Click this LINK or the picture below to view.
Click this LINK or the picture below to view.
@ YouTube.com
Battle Summary: Artemiseum
@ PAMELA PRADLEY - Ancient Greeks (1994)
Statistics:
Leaders and People Numbers |
Persian
Xerxes Ephialtes (Malian traitor) Hydarnes (Immortals general) Demeratus (exiled Spartan king) 150,000 approximately half were Persian (including the Immortals) Cavalry - numbers unknown 1,200 ships (Phoenician, Egyptian, Carian and Ionian) |
Greek
Land - Leonidas of Sparta Fleet - Themistocles of Athens (strategy) Eurybiades (command) 7,000 to 8,000 hoplites and light troops, including 1,100 Boetians of dubious loyalty, Thebans, Phocians (1,000), Thespians, Arcadians (2,120), Corinthians (400) 300 Spartan (royal bodyguard) 271 triremes (147 from Athens) |
*numbers are a constant source of debate. Herodotus is generally believed to be unreliable. Modern estimates use some process ... we never really hear what that process is, only the final estimates.
I, for example, believe once you count all the retainers and supporting units, supply and craftsman, stablehands, blacksmiths, cooks, cattle drivers (+1000 more) which must follow an army of 150 - 300,000 ... 2 to 5 million from Herodotus in the moving army is not such a ridiculous number! |
ANALYSIS
The ANCIENTS is a thumping good PODCAST channel which explores various topical coversations, mostly concerning the European ancient world. This episode is great as it probes the mind of one of the greatest authorities on classical Greece and our unit of work = Professor PAUL CARTLEDGE of CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.
When you listen, take notes, not on the historical details i.e. WHAT happened (for that you can read a textbook, or HEROOTUS). What you should do is make notes on the arguments and interpretations he makes. They become discussion fodder for your essays. The first 1/2 or so picks up some great discussion on the BACKGROUND - all the way back to Persian Imperialism and the Ionian Revolt = good revision.
When you listen, take notes, not on the historical details i.e. WHAT happened (for that you can read a textbook, or HEROOTUS). What you should do is make notes on the arguments and interpretations he makes. They become discussion fodder for your essays. The first 1/2 or so picks up some great discussion on the BACKGROUND - all the way back to Persian Imperialism and the Ionian Revolt = good revision.
RESULTS & SIGNIFICANCE
PAMELA BRADLEY: Ancient Greece (1994)
The loss of Thermopylae, the strongest position for defence north of the Isthmus, forced the submission of most of Boeotia and the loss of central Greece. The government of Sparta must take some blame for this, being too slow in mobilising the Peloponnesian forces and failing to bring reinforcements to Leonidas. Although Peloponnesian participation in the sacred Olympic and Karnean festivals should be considered, it may have been a convenient excuse, as many Peloponnesians did not approve of Themistocles' northern strategy.
Leonidas and his small force deserve an honoured place among military heroes, despite their failure. Their rearguard action prevented the Persians overtaking the rest of the retreating forces. However, for a Spartan king there was no other choice of action, and Leonidas died according to Spartan law. Themistocles' plan to hold the Persian fleet at Artemisium played a decisive role in the outcome of the war. The difficulties faced by the fleet at Artemisium- the weather, Greek raids, and restricted fighting in the straits- all had contributed to the loss of a large portion of it. This meant that the Persians would not be able to divide their fleet and make raids against the Peloponnese for the purpose of creating diversions and seizing strategic points. They could not afford to risk the defeat of the fleet and the loss of the whole campaign, so were forced now to concentrate at one point only. |
MAIN IDEA
Loss of Central Greece
Valour of Leonidas and the 300 Loss of Persianships |
CONTESTING THE PAST
It is still uncertain amongst many academics, whether the 7000 Greeks at Thermopylae were an advance guard at all as the rest of the combined Greek forces would mobilse and march.
Leonidas may have been forced to fight as he was unwillingly trapped by the Persian forces. There is also the mention of the 400 Theban warriors and their presence. Was it a planned defeat? Is it Greek propaganda following the unplanned morale boost follpowing their defeat? Thermopylae may have always been a diversion. The Persian forces would be primarily be defeated at Artemiseum could have been the Greek strategy all along - and ended in an indecisive stalemate. |