Greek: Persian War Flashcards
Herodotus 6.115
“The Alcmaeonidae were accused of suggesting this move; they had, it was said, an understanding with the Persians and raised a shield as a signal to them”
Herodotus 6.106
“The Spartans, though moved by the appeal, and willing to send help to Athens, were unable […] they did not wish to break their law”
H. 6.109
“in addition to the ten generals there was another person entitled to a vote, namely the polemarch”
the Greeks were more committed to freedom than the Persians were to conquest
- The Spartans would have sent troops to Marathon if it had not coincided with their festivals and they did not want to break their laws (6.106)
- Sacrifice of 300 men and Leonidas at Thermopylae, increased vigour at Salamis especially thanks to Athenian navy
- Serpent column at Delphi, a pan-hellenic site, commemorates the city states who contributed the most to the war effort
the Greeks were not more committed to freedom than the Persians were to conquest
- The Greeks were divided, only 35 cities formed the Hellenic League, Herodotus 6.115 “The Alcmaeonids were accused of suggesting this move”
- Additionally, at Marathon the ten generals were evenly split and the polemarch, Callimachus was the deciding vote
- Athenians threaten to sail to their colonies at Italy and leave Greece behind if Sparta doesn’t help them. Shows they were fine to leave their city behind
The Persians were more committed to conquering than the Greeks were to freedom
- Persians committed a large amount of troops, some 200,000 by modern estimates
- Bridged the Hellespont, massive building project
- Xerxes encouraged not to go by his uncle after Darius’s failure at Marathon- yet he sees it as the perfect opportunity to secure his place on the Persian throne as a strong leader
6.123
“The charge that they could have been guilty of the treacherous signal is mere slander, and I must confess it surprises me”
7.206
“none of them ever expected the battle at Thermopylae to be decided so soon- which was the reason why they sent only the advance parties there”
1.1, preface
“so that human achievements may not be forgotten over time”
The Persians were not more committed to conquering than the Greeks were to freedom
- Xerxes left after the defeat at Salamis, leaving his cousin Mardonius and a smaller force of troops behind to finish the job- if he truly cared he would have stayed
- The Persian force was relatively small compared to their armies, this was clearly meant to be a small exercise of power
Evidence Sparta contributed more to victory than Athens
- Sparta’s name is foremost on the Serpent column at Delphi
- Herodotus 7.139 “I know most people would object to-“ him defending the Athenians, showing the general view supported Sparta
- Spartan victory at Thermopylae and Plataea
Evidence Athens contributed more to victory than Sparta
- Herodotus 7.139 “It was the Athenians who held the balance: whichever side they joined was sure to prevail”
- Athenians victory at Marathon, Salamis and Mycale
- Spartans made a huge sacrifice at Thermopylae just to make sure Athens didn’t leave the Hellenic League
5.105
“Master remember the Athenians”
Naqs-e Rustam inscription
“I am Darius the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing all kinds of me”
8.94
“as I said, is an Athenian story, and the Corinthians do not admit the truth of it: on the contrary they believe that their ships played a most distinguished part in the battle- and the rest of Greece gives evidence in their favour”,
