Council of Athens.” And then he sprinted away.
Most Spartans, being religious, accepted Leonidas’ decision without question. They did not want to invite the wrath of the gods against by violating the laws of the Carneia.
And so it was that under the guidance of the red-haired Miltiades, the Athenian army destroyed the Persian force at Marathon. Even though much was made of this spectacular victory, rumours persisted that the Persians never saw this to be more than a scoping mission and their army was not as large as the Athenians claimed.
True to his word, Leonidas arrived at Marathon with a strong Spartan force as soon as the Carneia was over. And they had come running , as he had promised. Still, they arrived a day after the battle was over. The Spartan army was shown the aftermath of Marathon and the amazing extent of the Athenian victory. Athens had triumphed without Sparta. Sparta’s ego was bruised but her army had been preserved. Even though there was much grumbling by the troops for letting the Athenians win such spectacular victory on their own, the army accepted Leonidas’ appeal to their piety; it was the will of the gods.
But after Marathon, Leonidas wanted to restore the army’s confidence in itself. An opportunity soon presented itself when the Mantineans began to raid Perioiki settlements and Spartan farmsteads in Messene. Leonidas marched a force of three thousand troops to check the Mantinean incursions. He wanted to show off his military talents to his young wife, and so invited Gorgo to come along with the expedition. It was her first experience on a military campaign, and she felt just like the warriors, eager to see the enemy and repel their aggression.
As the troops approached the border, the Mantineans reacted by sending their entire citizen army – seven thousand strong – and dug them in on a high ridge near the village of Gortys, just inside Spartan-controlled territory. No self-respecting Spartan king could tolerate foreign occupation of Spartan soil and Leonidas had every intention of driving out these invaders, no matter what the odds.
The Spartans arrived at Gortys as the sun was setting and found the enemy force camped in strength just outside the village. The Mantinean army was impressively arrayed on an imposing ridge. Gorgo was not sure how three thousand Spartans could dislodge them.
Later that night, Leonidas’ commanders debated alternative strategies of how to defeat the enemy. Growing impatient with the discussion, Leonidas interrupted them. “Gentlemen, you can discuss your plans all night if you wish, but all of us know that any plan we make is shot to Hades the very moment we make contact with the enemy. Must I remind you that Spartan military strategy consists of two simple steps? The first step is to locate the enemy; the second to destroy it. Today we have found the enemy force; tomorrow, we shall finish it off.” With that, he dismissed the officers and went to bed.
And so it was with a degree of anticipation that Gorgo watched the events unfold from a safe distance of an opposing hillside that calm spring morning. Marshalling his men, Leonidas took them to the bottom of the ridge as the sun rose above the horizon. There he addressed them in his loudest voice, loud enough for even the enemy to hear.
“Spartan kings do not normally address their troops before battle, because Spartans warriors need not be told how to fight. And, comrades, that is not what I am going to do. I just wanted to share an observation with you.
“I have taken a good look at our enemy above us, and do you know what I see? I see farmers, shepherds, and masons; potters, carpenters, and even fishmongers; and smiths of all kinds. Given the increasing influence of the Athenians on our Mantinean neighbours, I am sure there must be a playwright or two up there; a philosopher too … perhaps even an architect …”
Laughter convulsed the Spartan ranks.
“… and somewhere in that rabble
Most Spartans, being religious, accepted Leonidas’ decision without question. They did not want to invite the wrath of the gods against by violating the laws of the Carneia.
And so it was that under the guidance of the red-haired Miltiades, the Athenian army destroyed the Persian force at Marathon. Even though much was made of this spectacular victory, rumours persisted that the Persians never saw this to be more than a scoping mission and their army was not as large as the Athenians claimed.
True to his word, Leonidas arrived at Marathon with a strong Spartan force as soon as the Carneia was over. And they had come running , as he had promised. Still, they arrived a day after the battle was over. The Spartan army was shown the aftermath of Marathon and the amazing extent of the Athenian victory. Athens had triumphed without Sparta. Sparta’s ego was bruised but her army had been preserved. Even though there was much grumbling by the troops for letting the Athenians win such spectacular victory on their own, the army accepted Leonidas’ appeal to their piety; it was the will of the gods.
But after Marathon, Leonidas wanted to restore the army’s confidence in itself. An opportunity soon presented itself when the Mantineans began to raid Perioiki settlements and Spartan farmsteads in Messene. Leonidas marched a force of three thousand troops to check the Mantinean incursions. He wanted to show off his military talents to his young wife, and so invited Gorgo to come along with the expedition. It was her first experience on a military campaign, and she felt just like the warriors, eager to see the enemy and repel their aggression.
As the troops approached the border, the Mantineans reacted by sending their entire citizen army – seven thousand strong – and dug them in on a high ridge near the village of Gortys, just inside Spartan-controlled territory. No self-respecting Spartan king could tolerate foreign occupation of Spartan soil and Leonidas had every intention of driving out these invaders, no matter what the odds.
The Spartans arrived at Gortys as the sun was setting and found the enemy force camped in strength just outside the village. The Mantinean army was impressively arrayed on an imposing ridge. Gorgo was not sure how three thousand Spartans could dislodge them.
Later that night, Leonidas’ commanders debated alternative strategies of how to defeat the enemy. Growing impatient with the discussion, Leonidas interrupted them. “Gentlemen, you can discuss your plans all night if you wish, but all of us know that any plan we make is shot to Hades the very moment we make contact with the enemy. Must I remind you that Spartan military strategy consists of two simple steps? The first step is to locate the enemy; the second to destroy it. Today we have found the enemy force; tomorrow, we shall finish it off.” With that, he dismissed the officers and went to bed.
And so it was with a degree of anticipation that Gorgo watched the events unfold from a safe distance of an opposing hillside that calm spring morning. Marshalling his men, Leonidas took them to the bottom of the ridge as the sun rose above the horizon. There he addressed them in his loudest voice, loud enough for even the enemy to hear.
“Spartan kings do not normally address their troops before battle, because Spartans warriors need not be told how to fight. And, comrades, that is not what I am going to do. I just wanted to share an observation with you.
“I have taken a good look at our enemy above us, and do you know what I see? I see farmers, shepherds, and masons; potters, carpenters, and even fishmongers; and smiths of all kinds. Given the increasing influence of the Athenians on our Mantinean neighbours, I am sure there must be a playwright or two up there; a philosopher too … perhaps even an architect …”
Laughter convulsed the Spartan ranks.
“… and somewhere in that rabble
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