Greek Period Study - Topic 1 The Challenge of Persia

Settling of taxation among the Ionian states. Taxation remained unaltered over half a century - Persians wanting stability

Mardonius suppressed the tyrants along the Ionian coastline and established a democracy. Surprising seeing as they had just fought against Ionian rebellion demanding democracy.

Mardonius' March on Europe - 'professed' objective of the expedition was claiming Athens and Eritrea.

Actual objective was to subjugate as many Greek towns as they could. Subjugation of Thasos

Storm hits Mardonius' fleet - 20,000 drown and 300 ships lost

How does Herodotus know what the secret goals of the Persians were?

The wrecked fleet attacked by a Thracian tribe. Subdues it and returns to Persia

Thasos ordered by Darius to dismantle their defences and bring their fleet to Abdera (rumours of a future rebellion). Island was rich from the gold mines, 200 talents per year. Spent money on ships and fortifications.

They obeyed - highlighting the threat of Persia at this point in time

Herodotus highlights his knowledgeability by stressing that he had visited the mines himself.

Darius sends out earth and water to the Greek states. The heralds received earth and water from many towns on the mainland. Aeginetans gave earth and water.

Anger from Athenians at this - accused the Aeginetans of being traitors to Greece

His servants kept telling Darius to "Remember Athens"

The Pisistratidae, Hippias and his family (former tyrants of Athens), with their attacks upon the Athenians were still with him. Wanted an excuse to conquer the Greek communities who would not give earth and water

Due to his poor performance on the previous expedition he relieved Mardonius of his command and appointed, Datis (a Mede) and his Nephew, Artaphernes

Very unlikely that the "remember Athens" comment actually happened

Six hundred triremes strong, fleet is larger than that perhaps because you would need horse transport as well- Exaggeration?

Sailed to Ionia, sailed to Samos and across the Icarian sea, through the Aegean islands because the commanders dreaded the passage round Athos, year before disaster. Naxos was also the first objective and was en route

After locating where the Delians had fled to, he sent them a courteous message pleading them to return to their island and imploring them that he would spare the island

Clearly cared for their people very much, burnt 300 talents of frankincense as an offering

Religious sensitivity, hope for respect from the Greeks

Earthquake in Delos

On the way to fight against Athens and Eretria the Persians went around the islands requesting children as hostages and men for service - those towns which refused were laid siege on

Eritrea under attack. Called to Athens for assistance, Athens supplied 4,000 men

Fear among Eretrians, one party suggested taking refuge in the Euboean hills, others prepared to betray the city

Aschines, a leading man of Eretria, sent the Athenians home

Defended the walls, 6 days of fighting and on the 7th Euphorbus and Philagrus betrayed the town. Persians stripped temples bare and burnt them in revenge for Sardis Inhabitants were all made slaves.

Marathon - why choose that location?

The port of Attic territory nearest to Eretria was Marathon and Marathon was also the best ground for cavalry to manoeuvre in

Hippias - former tyrant of Athens led the invasion

Athens Sent a message to Sparta via messenger Pheidippides

Met the god Pan on Mt Parthenium

It was the ninth day of the month, and they said they could not take the field until the moon was full. Did not want to break their law.

Portents of Hippias sleeping with his mother and spitting out a tooth

Portents. Unreliable

Plataeans surrendered their independence to the Athenians, who had given service to Plataea on many difficult occasions

Plataeans thought of putting themselves in Spartan hands, they refused saying that they live to far apart and that they should surrender to Athens (the advice from the Spartans desired to embroil Athens in quarrels with the Boeotians)

How does Herodotus know that this was the intention of Sparta's policy?

Casualties - 6400 Persians and 192 Athenians

Spartans arrive at Marathon after their religious festival to see the dead Persians.

First time coming into contact with the Persians?

When news of defeat at Marathon reached Darius, more determined than ever to invade Greece and to supress the revolt in Egypt.

Built up an army 'much larger than before'

Xerxes not interested in invading Greece, initially. Preparations for Egypt

Apparently Mardonius encouraged him to invade - stating that Greece had access to every kind of Garden tree.

Presenting Mardonius as the 'Bad Guy' solely responsible for the invasion of Greece? Seems unlikely that he would have had that much influence on Darius

Not likely that he was persuaded - Greece insignificant compared to the rebellion of Egypt. Wanted to prove himself to be an equal to the previous kings . Almost certainly fictitious

Mardonius apparently motivated by 'a love of mischief' and a hope of becoming governor of Greece

Speech of Xerxes

Wanted to live up to the legacies of the kings before him

States that Greece is 'not glory only but a country as large and as rich as our own - indeed richer than our own' - just false

Revenge for Sardis

Xerxes' speech - first of all, speech. How does Herodotus know all this?

Secondly, states that Greece as rich as Persia - could be propaganda, but this certainly was not a reason for invasion. Wholly factitious and Xerxes would have known this

Mardonius speech in support of the invasion

Mocks them militarily - questions what Persia has to fear.

Exaggerates his campaign success

Presents Mardonius as foolish - theme of hubris nemesis.

Artabanus' reply.

• Tells Mardonius not to slander the Greeks

• Consents to the killing of his sons and himself if they defeat the Greeks

• Greeks are said to be Great fighters

• Plays the wise advisor that is tragically ignored

• Urges the abandoning of the plan

Artabanus warns against the threat having too large a force. Starvation and the threat that a fleet which can't find a port has in terms of storms

Plays the role of wise advisor once more.

Demaratus tells that the Spartans will not accept terms under any circumstances which would mean slavery for Greece

Any number of Spartans will fight you even if greatly outnumbered

Second comment clearly foreshadows the battle of Thermopylae - leaves us questioning the sources integrity

Cities which submitted to Xerxes' heralds: Thessalians, Dolopes, Aenianes, Perrhaebi, Locrians, Magnetes, Malians, Achaeans of Phthotis, Thebans and all other Boeotians except Plataea and Thespiae - Vast majority

Didn't send heralds to Sparta and Athens because of what had happened to Darius' messengers before; Sparta - pushed into a well, Athens - thrown into a pit of criminals - sacrilegious

Herodotus' argument for the actual purpose of the expedition

States that while it was mainly directed at Athens, the purpose was the conquest of all of Greece

People who had not given earth and water were panicking because they had nowhere near the amount of ships required to combat the Persians and most of Greece was unwilling to fight

States that It was the Athenians who saved Greece

If they had fled, their would have been no naval competition and therefore there would be no use in the fortification of the Isthmus - The Persians would have won

Sense of Athenian agenda, merit in what he says but it doesn't take into account what would have happened if the Spartans did not fight

Delphic Oracle's comments - Essentially said the Persian army would burn the shrines and temples to the ground. Take olive branches and disguise themselves as supplicants and approach a second time

Second prophecy -

That Zeus supports Persia

• the wooden wall shall not fall and divine Salamis were taken with much

• Wooden wall - Leads to much debate. Themistocles argues that it is the fleet which it talks about, not a real wooden wall. Divine Salamis

Themistocles wins debate. Mines from Laurium, people argued to give themselves 10 drachmas each

Argued to spend it on the construction of 200 war ships

key source on his reliability

States that his business is to record what people say, but he is by no means a believer in what he records - tells us to apply to the book as a whole

Thermopylae

Original suggestion Thessaly -  would keep Thessaly on their side, but weren't able to because of Thermopylae was better, couldn't be circumvented easily and was closer to loyal Greek states, narrower

Conference among the Greeks about the advisability of retreat - proposed by the Peloponnesians that they should retreat and fall back on the Isthmus. The Phocians and Locrians were against this and Leonidas advocated for staying put as well - sent an appeal for reinforcements to the various states of the confederacy.

Xerxes scout bewildered by Spartan preparation for battle - combing hair, exercising

Herodotus depiction of Persians:

"Many men but few soldiers"

Spartans better equipped, trained, etc..

4,0000 pelops' land against three million Persians dead apparently - Spartan epitaph at Thermopylae

Definitly buying into Thermopylae myth, here.

Stationed the fleet at Artemisium because it was close to Thermopylae

271 ships in total were sent, excluding penteconters

127 from Athens, Eurybiades because other members of the confederacy had supplied Eurybiades as Sparta was the hegemon of land and sea

Not a royal, spartan kings always command military expeditions on land, not at sea (shows they don't really care much about naval expeditions)

Attica excluded as it had been given up already, general opinion is in favour of sailing back to the Isthmus as at Salamis they could find themselves blocked up in an island without any military support

At the Isthmus if disaster fell they could take refuge amongst their own people opposed to being trapped in an island, view held by the Peloponnesian officers

Key passage on the conflict between Athens and Corinth even before the Peloponnesian war

• "the man who starts before the signal is whipped"

• "but those who start too late win no prizes"

• Corinth vs Athens conflict - Corinth was very wealthy for her maritime trade, the invention of the trireme. Athens challenges Corinth's power in all fields in terms of naval strength.

• Rank dispute - Adeimantus vs Themistocles

Themistocles threatens to abandon the rest of the Greek fleet with Athens and settle in Siris in Italy

Mardonius is worried for suggesting to Xerxes to take on the expedition

Encourages the further attack with just 300,000 men to defeat the invasion

Xerxes has a debate on the course of action - Involves Artimisia

Artimisia is perhaps over-emphasised as a figure given her shared heritage with

Again, Herodotus somehow knowing what Xerxes' thoughts are...how is this possible?

Persians Send Alexander of Macedon to the Athenians to offer them to be an ally

Athenians respond "We Athenians will never make peace with Xerxes" - very bitterly after the Sacking of Salamis

Spartans send an envoy to make sure of their decision and Athens are offended that they felt that Athens would ever betray Greece

Athens' reasons for declining - Herodotus' understanding of Greece shining through

• "The community of blood and language, temples and ritual, and our common customs" - what Greece is to Herodotus - Panhellenism

• "Is the burning of the temples and images of our gods - now ashes and rubble" - avenge this

• Urge the Spartans to get their army into a field before the Persians attack Attica

Extract highlights the lack of unity within Greece --> states that Mardonius levied troops on his way from Thessaly through Greece

States that the Thebans argued that sending money to the leading men throughout Greece and it will destroy the unity held throughout Greece

Mardonius ignores suggestion - set upon taking Athens once more. Herodotus states that this was for obstinacy and pleasing Xerxes

Potentially Herodotus characterising Mardonius as the overly-ambitious villain once again, Somehow ascertaining his motives as a figure once again

• Athenians send an envoy to Sparta as they were bitter that Sparta had instead of Marching against the Persians, had let them march through to Boeotia. Stating that if they got no help from Sparta they would have to find support from elsewhere

• Athenian Messengers state that given they refused the Persian offer they are bitter that they have received no support from the Spartans as of yet and allowed them to invade Attica

• Apparently the Ephors and the rest of Sparta put off their reply for a fortnight - stating that they were concerned with the wall across the Isthmus. Herodotus' explanation for this is that given the Wall was complete now, they had no need for Athenian support

• Phocians arrive to fight with the Persians, infantry was separated from the army and took place on a plane. Persian cavalry arrive and surround the Phocians stand their ground - Cavalry is disbanded and the Phocians are commended for their  bravery

• Bond between Greek states, very fractious - Thessalians give the Phocians a bad reputation

• The Persians do not trust the Thessalians report of the Phocians

• The Phocians are not trusted by the Persians and the Phocians do not trust the Persians - commander calls out that they are about to be attacked

Relationship between Greeks and Greeks and Persians

Thebans are most eager to attack rather than the Persians - (however Athenians hated the Thebans)

Thebans were Persia's 'firm friends'

Battle of Plataea highlights Spartan religiosity:

Battle began when the Tegeans attack the Greeks with Archers

The Spartans do not initially engage as they were waiting for a favourable omen - Spartans were genuinely spiritual, they wouldn't have waited for a response, getting shot

Not viewed well by Athenians and Herodotus - view religion as a convenient excuse

Reasons for Persian defeat in battle:

'Deficient in armour, untrained and greatly inferior in skill but in courage and strength they were as good as their advisories'

Compensated for this with courage

Marius in battle

He and his 1000 was what kept the army from defeat for so long

Only falls when he is killed

"the flower of the army"

Account of Mardonius' actions are incontestable, from the spartan perspective

Herodotus' conclusion of the battle

The Persian contingent fought best

Lakedaimonians did the best because they were against the best enemies