Unorthodox Angles/Andrew Gramling
Echoes from History: The Last Stand Before Unity Part II
As King Xerxes and his army of unprecedented size and scope traveled southward through northern Greece along the Kallidromon range, the Malian Gulf just east of the mountains began to bottleneck his forces and constrict his numbers. Ahead, along the pass, was visible an old stone wall originally built by the Phocians that appeared to have been recently reconstructed. With Thermopylae located on the northern edge of Phocian territory, the Phocians built the wall as a defensive barrier against raiders from further north, particularly the Thessalians, who were known for their cavalry and great wealth, but who were no match for Xerxes’ army, causing the rulers of Thessaly to surrender quickly and allow passage through their lands. Also partly visible to Xerxes were the ones who had reconstructed the wall, but whose numbers were partly secluded by the barrier.
In order to get a more precise read on the situation, Xerxes sent scouts ahead to the wall as his army took a holding position not far off the gulf coastline. Instead of a terrified group of men who feared for their lives, Xerxes was puzzled to be informed of reports describing men casually exercising and combing their hair. It was then that Demaratus, exiled Spartan king with status in Persia, told Xerxes that it is the custom of the Spartans to style their hair before risking their lives.
Xerxes was certain that with his army completely eclipsing the Greek coalition force, that they would come to their senses about their chances of survival and flee so that he could avoid any unnecessary losses. For four long days, Xerxes and his army waited in the late summer sun in a standoff as the Greek forces remained exactly where they were in complete defiance to the king. It was then that Xerxes realized they had no plans to retreat and gave the order to capture the Greeks alive, but that would prove to be far from an easy task.
On the other side of the wall, rows of men wearing bronze or linothorax armor (layers of glued linen) and who were equipped with a shield (aspis), spear (dory), and short sword (either a xiphos or a kopis), prepared to hold their position with their lives. There was some variation in style between the various city-states, and even among those from the same land as a soldier’s equipment is mostly dependent on what they themselves are able to purchase. Despite any superficial differences, the Greeks, save for the helots, were all assembled for the same reason— the right to exist free of tyranny.
The Spartans, despite their brutal training methods, were also trained to focus on group unity and cooperation for most of their lives. Being taken from their families at such an early age, they were conditioned to hold the militaristic state they were born into in the highest regard over any personal relationship. They served as a cohesive fighting force among the Greeks assembled at Thermopylae and an example of what being born to be a warrior is truly about.
As the Persian imperial forces drew near, the diversity of their armament came closer into focus. The core of the army consisted of the Persians themselves, often equipped with a composite bow, short spear, wicker shield, and short sword (akinakes) while adorned with scale or quilted armor.
The Egyptians were typically equipped with large shields, long spears, battle axes, and swords while wearing Egyptian headdresses and linen or scale armor. It’s quite possible that the Egyptian soldiers were among the most disciplined of Xerxes’ army because of their long history and experience with large-scale warfare.
The nomadic Scythians, aside from some of the other weapons mentioned, were equipped with daggers, and wore scale or leather armor. Many Scythians were expert horse archers as well. There were several other groups with varying equipment in addition to those mentioned.
With such a vast array of soldiers, it was clear that Xerxes’ army did not overall form a very unified military unit, completely unlike the Greeks. But like the Greeks, they were all fighting for the same cause, yet of a completely opposite nature— to continue to be ruled by a tyrant.
When the Persian forces clashed with the Greeks, they met a wall—and not merely the Phocian barrier. With their tight battle formation, it was difficult to capitalize on openings and vulnerabilities, especially given the narrowness of the pass, particularly at this chokepoint. Persian spears being no equal in length to the Greek dory left them at a serious disadvantage in close combat. Even ranged weapons had little effect against Greek armor and shields. A tactic that the Greeks often employed was to give the appearance of a retreat, but then to turn around suddenly and catch Persian soldiers off guard and inflict heavy losses while suffering very few in return. The first day definitely favored the Greeks for their numerous advantages.
On the second day of fighting, Xerxes deployed his elite guard of 10,000 into battle— The Immortals, whose name doesn’t originate from any supernatural status, but because when one member is killed, they are immediately replaced, thus always retaining a membership of 10,000. Even with all of their high-quality weaponry and equipment and elite training, The Immortals still weren’t strong or skilled enough to break through the Greek wall of bronze. It appeared that Xerxes would need a different strategy if he were to tread further into mainland Greece.
The Battle of Thermopylae was not an independent combat operation but part of a larger coordinated effort. While the Spartans and other Greek soldiers held off the pass at Thermopylae, simultaneously, and not far away, a battle at sea in the straits of Artemisium against the Persian forces was taking place, led by the Athenians. While the Spartans made the greatest infantry in all of Greece, the Athenians had the most well-equipped navy, and they used it to prevent the Persians from bypassing Thermopylae to gain a strategic advantage on the rest of Greece. News traveled fast to Artemisium of the success of the battle group led by Leonidas and their forces there continued to hold the line as long as Thermopylae held, but treachery was the one thing that would be able to shift the dynamic in favor of the Persians. A man named Ephialtes of Trachis saw the Persian advance on Thermopylae as his opportunity for personal wealth and recognition— and in doing so, endangered the entire Greek defense.