The battle of plataea in 479 bce is one of world historys unjustly neglected events. Thermopylae is a fascinating indepth description of the threeday battle for the strategic pass at the socalled hot gates of thermopylae. Persian wars, thermopylae, salamis, plataea page 1. Thermopylae, the battle for the west is instead a good, concise recap of the grecopersian war. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae this expedition against athens threatened all of greece. Herodotus the great greek historian was born about 484 bce, at halicarnassus in caria, asia minor, when it was subject to the persians. 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. The central theme of after thermopylae is not the battle itself, though cartledge gives it adequate attention, but rather the controversy surrounding the oath of plataea and whether it was. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated. In book 1, herodotus announces his purpose to memorialize the great and marvelous deeds of the greeks and their barbarian neighbors, and, more particularly, to show why they came into conflict. Family history of leonidas, the spartan basileusand commander 204. The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus. Spartas last stance is one of the most important battles during the persian war.
A commentary of similar quality on book 7, the thermopylae book, would be well received. Provides a concise and engaging narrative of an oftoverlooked battle from one of the most critical periods in ancient history. I grew up on hard books, but i could not put this book down. Arms and armour from the heroes of homer to alexander the great uk ed. It was at thermopylae, however, that the fate of xerxess forces was determined by a small band of spartans. From marathon to thermopylae expurgating persian war myths. Nonetheless, it is this seminal event which paul cartledge, hellenic parliament global distinguished professor, has examined in this, his latest book. It was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king leonidas of sparta, and the persian empire of xerxes i. In the narrow strait between the island of salamis and the greek mainland, a heavily outnumbered greek navy defeated the persian armada in a brilliant victory that is still studied today. Herodotus and the persian wars utah state university. The extent of the greeks geographical knowledge of the world can be reconstructed from considering regions and places mentioned by contemporary authors. On the battle of thermopylae itself, two principal sources, herodotus and simonides accounts, survive. This expedition against athens threatened all of greece. Although diodorus was no mere compiler, but rewrote his.
He is author of the persian war cambridge, 1982, translated from herodotus. Herodotus and the dating of the battle of thermopylae. The persian war recounts one of the most significant conflicts in the history of western civilization. Histories book 7, the battle of thermopylae summary. Arms and armour from the heroes of homer to alexander the great by everson, tim. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers. Herodotus versus the legend a narratological comparison of herodotus and diodorus on thermopylae narrative and identity in thermopylae herodotus 7. Nov 30, 2017 the british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae.
To know more, lets delve into our principal source. The battle of thermopylae occurred in august or september 480 bc, at the narrow coastal pass of thermopylae during the second persian attempt to conquer greece. Herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. Theodotus the gnostic, a principal formulator of eastern gnosticism, a system of religious dualism belief in rival deities of good and evil with a doctrine of salvation by gnosis, or esoteric knowledge. Hide browse bar your current position in the text is marked in blue.
Cavaignac believes it is actually the eclipse of 2 october and xerxes. There, as before, the spartans were the decisive force, turning out in massive numbers. But, notwithstanding that they have so foolish a manner of warfare, yet these greeks, when i led my army against them to the very borders of macedonia, did not so much as think of offering me battle. The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories essay 1146 words 5 pages western civilization february 8, 2009 the battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories the battle of thermopylae, which herodotus recorded in his writing the histories, was one of the most arduous and notable battles of western history. William shepherd studied classics at clare college, cambridge, in the 1960s and then embarked on a career in publishing, which finally brought him to osprey, where he retired as chief executive in 2007.
The battles of thermopylae salamis, and plataea, b. Mce southward into greece in 480 bce, some greeks submitted peacejhlly to him, but an alliance of thirtyone states decided to. Wellwritten, and comprehensive scholarship that we have come to expect from paul cartledge. The young king inherited a solid empire, which was greater than any before in history. From the history of the persian wars, book vi, 5660. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisium. However it is reported also that leonidas himself sent them away, having a care that they might not perish, but thinking that it was not seemly for himself and for the spartans who were present to leave the post to which they had come at first to keep guard there. The length of the route from the sea up to heliopolis is almost exactly the same as that of the road which runs from the altar of the twelve gods at athens to the temple of olympian jove at pisa. Who does herodotus claim betrayed the spartans and told the persians of the existence of the goat track. Since the original internet text was not indexed, i added the paragraph index marker system which was used in the modern library edition of rawlinsons text, published under the title of the persian wars by herodotus, 1942. In thermopylae ernle bradford brings to life the personalities and fantastic battles of this epic period with unmatched skill and verve. The british title for this book, the year of thermopylae london, 1980, is much more descriptive since the book covers events leading up to and including thermopylae.
From the scant data available, theodotus is known to have taught gnosticism in asia minor c. King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. Filled with illustrations, this volume explores the. While they all knew it was coming, they didnt see it in the same way. Xerxes according to herodotus encyclopaedia iranica. The victory of a few greek citystates over the worlds first superpower was an extraordinary military feat that secured the future of western civilization. Theodotus the gnostic gnostic philosopher britannica. In book 3, passages 102 to 105, herodotus reports that a species of foxsized, furry ants lives in one of the far eastern, indian provinces of the persian empire. Herodotus, the histories, book 8, chapter 1, section 1. Herodotus the persian war download ebook pdf, epub.
The oath of plataea and the end of the graecopersian wars the oath of plataea and the end of the graecopersian wars by paul cartledge available from rakuten kobo. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. He well uses both modern and ancient sources to tell the story not just of the battle of thermopylae, but also of the whole war in which it took place. The main source for the battle of 480 is herodotus, histories, 7. Why didnt king leonidas defend the small track that enabled.
Book seven of herodotus histories ended with a greek defeat, but in book eight we will hear about greek successes. The battle of plataea in 479 bce is one of world historys unjust. How many spartan hoplites took part in the battle of thermopylae. Here we get the most bodacious recount of the battle of thermopylae and the noble 300 spartans who. The athenians occupied the centre while callimachus as the senior commander occupied the right wing, which was closest to mount pentelicon. Explore the site of a battle at thermopylae, described by herodotus, and the subject of two 21st century movies.
Cambyses becomes king of the persian empire 530522 bc. How leonidas got to be king of sparta on his brothers deaths. The dream canal across the chersonesus crossing the hellespont battle of thermopylae. His endeavour has produced a carefully and wellresearched book, which stands as an important contribution not only to ancient greek warfare but also to the larger issues of reception and cultural memory. Jan 28, 2016 the heroic last stand by 300 spartans at the battle of thermopylae is the most famous incident from the persians failed attempt to conquer greece in 480 bc.
Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. 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. This plan was put into effect in a most shattering manner and gave the battle of marathon the fame it has enjoyed ever since. Those cities that were formerly great are now diminished, while those that are now great were once small. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the battle of thermopylae book vii as its. Hoplite warfare was a form of combat unique to southern greece. The greek commander was the admiral of the small spartan squadron, a man named eurybiades. Herodotus records the size and composition of the greek fleet271 ships in total. Understand how the geography of the area has changed, and consider how the retelling of. He explains his theory that it is the athenians who ensured the freedom of greece by taking the course of action he is about to describe. A military historian, bradford makes sense of the complicated maneuvers and does a very thorough background on all components of the battle, from the three rows of trireme rowers to an. The battle for the west is one of those greatly accessible, pleasantly reading, and yet academically meaty history books.
Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Warfare in the old testament helps bridge the gap between the modern reader and the world of the old testament by using textual and physical evidence to describe ancient military practices. Click download or read online button to get herodotus the persian war book now. This book challenges conventional opinion by arguing that slaves and helots played an important part in classical greek warfare. Of course, demaratus was correct, and the greeks did put up a fight. Thermopylae this book doesnt limit itself to the significant, but limited action at the hot gates. Whether on land or on sea he withholds a great deal of information. Dont let the title fool you however as the scope of the book is not limited to just the battle of thermopylae. In the famous battle for the west between the persian king xerxes and the land he invaded, greece, leonidas made a brave yet bloody stand there with his small yet brave spartan army in 480 b. Id wager almost as much time was spent on plateau, salamis and artemisium as thermopylae which. After thermopylae the oath of plataea and the end of the graecopersian wars paul cartledge emblems of antiquity. Gates of fire, by stephen pressfield, has the batt le of thermopylae book vii as its. The persian war in herodotus and other ancient voices. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired b y herodotu s description in b ook ii of the histories.
The battle of thermopylae from herodotus the histories. In the runup to the persian invasion of 480 the spartans considered how. The roster of the greek contingents at thermopylae 20. The nook book ebook of the warfare in ancient greece. It is generally agreed that ephorus was diodorus source for books 1116 of his bibliotheke,s5 the invasion of xerxes being narrated within the first thirtyseven chapters of book 11. Some submitted to persia thinking they wouldnt get hurt. Chapter summary for herodotus s histories, book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary. Although rival citystates often used these classes in their own forces or tried to incite their enemies slaves to rebellion or desertion, such recruitment was ideologically awkward. The emphasis on storytelling in the battles of herodotus histories books 79 by william k. If a single sentence can be said to sound the keynote of herodotus histories, surely it is this one, privileged by its position at the end of the works introductory segment. Summary of and commentary on herodotus histories, book 7, 2015 your bibliography. After thermopylae paul cartledge oxford university press.
Creation, by gore vidal, interpreting many scenes from the persian viewpoint. Its centrepiece was a quick decisive battle that usually followed a set structure of charge, collision, melee warfare and collapse with the twin strategies of trying to make breaks. All modern accounts of the war as a whole, and of the bestknown battles of marathon, thermopylae and salamis, depend on the ancient sources, foremost amongst them herodotus. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. How herodotus might have come to know about the battle of. Hopefully they represent a standard notation for referencing the text. That their mission was suicidal selfsacrifice is supported further by another story in herodotus book 7, recounted, significantly, not long before he tells the story of thermopylae. Seevers paints a realistic picture of how israel and the surrounding nations did battle, adding depth and impact to the relevant biblical accounts. He describes the rise of the lydian empire under croesus, who first subdued the greek settlements on the. Herodotus the histories, book 7, polymnia 8239 battle of thermopylae. Herodotus notes that while xerxes ostensibly meant to punish athens, his real intent was to conquer all of greece. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul cartledge wrote. Psychological warfare and the battle of thermopylae.
Find a summary of this and each chapter of histories. The history of herodotus by herodotus, part of the internet classics archive. Pharaoh, by boleslaw prus, incorporating the labyrinth scenes inspired by herodotus description in book ii of the histories. 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. This chapter outlines the epic backdrop to the battle of thermopylae, and includes a catalogue of epic echoes throughout herodotus book 7 as well as a detailed discussion of herodotus battle narrative. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors pylae. Herodotus and the 300 at thermopylae 221 is on the march, which likewise lists a great number of peoples, but also includes some description of the peoples themselves, especially the armament they carry. This region, he reports, is a sandy desert, and the sand there contains a wealth of fine gold dust. Plataea mycale by 479 the war is over, and the greeks victorious. These are the royal rights which have been given by the spartans to their kings, namely, two priesthoodof zeos sparta and zeos uraniosand the right of making war against whatsoever land they please, and that no man of the spartans shall hinder this right, or if he do, he shall be subject to the curse. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In this episode of the ancient warfare magazine podcast angus, josho, lindsay and mark discuss volume 9, issue 1 the. The history of herodotus by herodotus written 440 b. Herodotus and the persian wars the organization of herodotus histories is discursive main thrust.
Named polymnia after the greek muse of sacred poetry. Book i 299k book ii 249k book iii 221k book iv 230k book v 162k book vi 174k book vii 286k book viii 179k. He travelled widely in most of asia minor, egypt as far as assuan, north africa, syria, the country north of the black sea, and many parts of the aegean sea and the mainland of greece. The heroic last stand by 300 spartans at the battle of. Herodotus states that an eclipse occurred at salamis, in 480, when xerxes began his march 7. The history of herodotus has been divided into the following sections. Historical novels sourcing material from herodotus. While the grecopersian confrontation stretched roughly from 499 to 450 bc, the critical events unfolded between 490 and 479 bc, a period that encompassed the legendary battles of marathon, salamis, artemisium, thermopylae and plataea. In one of the famous battles of ancient history, the persian force met a much smaller greek army at a narrow mountain pass called thermopylae. Johnson the problem with reading about the battles described by herodotus in his histories is that he gives the reader a frustratingly incomplete picture of greek warfare. He has also written reading books for children and articles in the osprey military journal, of which he. An epic history of guerrilla warfare from ancient times to the present.
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