to change their positions with one another: and the Boeotians perceiving
that which was being done reported it to Mardonios, who, when he heard
it, forthwith himself also endeavoured to change positions, bringing the
Persians along so as to be against the Lacedemonians: and when
Pausanias learnt that this was being done, he perceived that he was not
unobserved, and he led the Spartans back again to the right wing; and
just so also did Mardonios upon his left.
48. When they had been thus brought to their former positions, Mardonios
sent a herald to the Spartans and said as follows: "Lacedemonians, ye
are said forsooth by those who are here to be very good men, and they
have admiration for you because ye do not flee in war nor leave
your post, but stay there and either destroy your enemies or perish
yourselves. In this however, as it now appears, there is no truth; for
before we engaged battle and came to hand-to-hand conflict we saw you
already flee and leave your station, desiring to make the trial with
the Athenians first, while ye ranged yourselves opposite to our slaves.
These are not at all the deeds of good men in war, but we were deceived
in you very greatly; for we expected by reason of your renown that ye
would send a herald to us, challenging us and desiring to fight with the
Persians alone; but though we on our part were ready to do this, we did
not find that ye said anything of this kind, but rather that ye cowered
with fear. Now therefore since ye were not the first to say this, we
are the first. Why do we not forthwith fight, 52 ye on behalf of the
Hellenes, since ye have the reputation of being the best, and we on
behalf of the Barbarians, with equal numbers on both sides? and if we
think it good that the others should fight also, then let them fight
afterwards; and if on the other hand we should not think it good, but
think it sufficient that we alone should fight, then let us fight it
out to the end, and whichsoever of us shall be the victors, let these be
counted as victorious with their whole army.".
49. The herald having thus spoken waited for some time, and then, as no
one made him any answer, he departed and went back; and having returned
he signified to Mardonios that which had happened to him. Mardonios
then being greatly rejoiced and elated by his empty 53 victory, sent
the cavalry to attack the Hellenes: and when the horsemen had ridden
to attack them, they did damage to the whole army of the Hellenes by
hurling javelins against them and shooting with bows, being mounted
archers and hard therefore to fight against: and they disturbed and
choked up the spring Gargaphia, from which the whole army of the
Hellenes was drawing its water. Now the Lacedemonians alone were posted
near this spring, and it was at some distance from the rest of the
Hellenes, according as they chanced to be posted, while the Asopos was
near at hand; but when they were kept away from the Asopos, then they
used to go backwards and forwards to this spring; for they were not
permitted by the horsemen and archers to fetch water from the river..
50. Such then being the condition of things, the generals of the
Hellenes, since the army had been cut off from its water and was being
harassed by the cavalry, assembled to consult about these and other
things, coming to Pausanias upon the right wing: for other things too
troubled them yet more than these of which we have spoken, since they
no longer had provisions, and their attendants who had been sent to
Peloponnese for the purpose of getting them had been cut off by the
cavalry and were not able to reach the camp..
51. It was resolved then by the generals in council with one another,
that if the Persians put off the battle for that day, they would go
to the Island. This is distant ten furlongs 54 from the Asopos and the
spring Gargaphia, where they were then encamped, and is in front of the
city of the Plataians: and if it be asked how there can be an island on
the mainland, thus it is 55:—the river parts in two above, as it flows
from Kithairon down to the plain, keeping a distance of about three
furlongs between its streams, and after that it joins again in one
stream; and the name of it is Oëroe, said by the natives of the country
to be the daughter of Asopos. To this place of which I speak they
determined to remove, in order that they might be able to get an
abundant supply of water and that the cavalry might not do them damage,
as now when they were right opposite. And they proposed to remove when
the second watch of the night should have come, so that the Persians
might not see them set forth and harass them with the cavalry pursuing.
They proposed also, after they had arrived at this place, round which,
as I say, Oëroe the daughter of Asopos flows, parting into two streams
56 as she runs from Kithairon, to send half the army to Kithairon during
this same night, in order to take up their attendants who had gone to
get the supplies of provisions; for these were cut off from them in
Kithairon.
52. Having thus resolved, during the whole of that day they had trouble
unceasingly, while the cavalry pressed upon them; but when the day drew
to a close and the attacks of the cavalry had ceased, then as it was
becoming night and the time had arrived at which it had been agreed
that they should retire from their place, the greater number of them set
forth and began to retire, not however keeping it in mind to go to the
place which had been agreed upon; but on the contrary, when they had
begun to move, they readily took occasion to flee 57 from the cavalry
towards the city of the Plataians, and in their flight they came as
far as the temple of Hera, which temple is in front of the city of the
Plataians at a distance of twenty furlongs from the spring Gargaphia;
and when they had there arrived they halted in front of the temple.
53. These then were encamping about the temple of Hera; and Pausanias,
seeing that they were retiring from the camp, gave the word to the
Lacedemonians also to take up their arms and go after the others who
were preceding them, supposing that these were going to the place to
which they had agreed to go. Then, when all the other commanders were
ready to obey Pausanias, Amompharetos the son of Poliades, the commander
of the Pitanate division, 58 said that he would not flee from the
strangers, nor with his own will would he disgrace Sparta; and he
expressed wonder at seeing that which was being done, not having been
present at the former discussion. And Pausanias and Euryanax were
greatly disturbed that he did not obey them and still more that they
should be compelled to leave the Pitanate division behind, since he thus
refused; 59 for they feared that if they should leave it in order to do
that which they had agreed with the other Hellenes, both Amompharetos
himself would perish being left behind and also the men with him. With
this thought they kept the Lacedemonian force from moving, and meanwhile
they endeavoured to persuade him that it was not right for him to do
so..
54. They then were exhorting Amompharetos, who had been left behind
alone of the Lacedemonians and Tegeans; and meanwhile the Athenians
were keeping themselves quiet in the place where they had been posted,
knowing the spirit of the Lacedemonians, that they were apt to say
otherwise than they really meant; 60 and when the army began to move,
they sent a horseman from their own body to see whether the Spartans
were attempting to set forth, or whether they had in truth no design at
all to retire; and they bade him ask Pausanias what they ought to do.
55. So when the herald came to the Lacedemonians, he saw that they were
still in their place and that the chiefs of them had come to strife with
one another: for when Euryanax and Pausanias both exhorted Amompharetos
not to run the risk of remaining behind with his men, alone of all the
Lacedemonians, they did not at all persuade him, and at last they had
come to downright strife; and meanwhile the herald of the Athenians had
arrived and was standing by them. And Amompharetos in his contention
took a piece of rock in both his hands and placed it at the feet of
Pausanias, saying that with this pebble he gave his vote not to fly from
the strangers, meaning the Barbarians. 61 Pausanias then, calling him a
madman and one who was not in his right senses, bade tell the state of
their affairs to the Athenian herald, 62 who was asking that which he
had been charged to ask; and at the same time he requested the Athenians
to come towards the Lacedemonians and to do in regard to the retreat the
same as they did..
56. He then went away back to the Athenians; and as the dawn of day
found them yet disputing with one another, Pausanias, who had remained
still throughout all this time, gave the signal, and led away all the
rest over the low hills, supposing that Amonpharetos would not stay
behind when the other Lacedemonians departed (in which he was in fact
right); and with them also went the Tegeans. Meanwhile the Athenians,
following the commands which were given them, were going in the
direction opposite to that of the Lacedemonians; for these were clinging
to the hills and the lower slope of Kithairon from fear of the cavalry,
while the Athenians were marching below in the direction of the plain..
57. As for Amonpharetos, he did not at first believe that Pausanias
would ever venture to leave him and his men behind, and he stuck to it
that they should stay there and not leave their post; but when Pausanias
and his troops were well in front, then he perceived that they had
actually left him behind, and he made his division take up their arms
and led them slowly towards the main body. This, when it had got away
about ten furlongs, stayed for the division of Amompharetos, halting
at the river Moloeis and the place called Argiopion, where also there
stands a temple of the Eleusinian Demeter: and it stayed there for this
reason, namely in order that of Amonpharetos and his division should not
leave the place where they had been posted, but should remain there, it
might be able to come back to their assistance. So Amompharetos and his
men were coming up to join them, and the cavalry also of the Barbarians
was at the same time beginning to attack them in full force: for the
horsemen did on this day as they had been wont to do every day; and
seeing the place vacant in which the Hellenes had been posted on the
former days, they rode their horses on continually further, and as soon
as they came up with them they began to attack them.
58. Then Mardonios, when he was informed that the Hellenes had departed
during the night, and when he saw their place deserted, called Thorax of
Larissa and his brothers Eurypylos and Thrasydeios, and said: "Sons
of Aleuas, will ye yet say anything, 63 now that ye see these places
deserted? For ye who dwell near them were wont to say that the
Lacedemonians did not fly from a battle, but were men unsurpassed in
war; and these men ye not only saw before this changing from their post,
but now we all of us see that they have run away during the past night;
and by this they showed clearly, when the time came for them to contend
in battle with those who were in truth the best of all men, that after
all they were men of no worth, who had been making a display of valour
among Hellenes, a worthless race. As for you, since ye had had no
experience of the Persians, I for my part was very ready to excuse you
when ye praised these, of whom after all ye knew something good; but
much more I marvelled at Artabazos that he should have been afraid of
the Lacedemonians, and that having been afraid he should have uttered
that most cowardly opinion, namely that we ought to move our army away
and go to the city of the Thebans to be besieged there,—an opinion about
which the king shall yet be informed by me. Of these things we will
speak in another place; now however we must not allow them to act thus,
but we must pursue them until they are caught and pay the penalty to us
for all that they did to the Persians in time past.".
59. Thus having spoken he led on the Persians at a run, after they had
crossed the Asopos, on the track of the Hellenes, supposing that
these were running away from him; and he directed his attack upon the
Lacedemonians and Tegeans only, for the Athenians, whose march was
towards the plain, he did not see by reason of the hills. Then the rest
of the commanders of the Barbarian divisions, seeing that the Persians
had started to pursue the Hellenes, forthwith all raised the signals for
battle and began to pursue, each as fast as they could, not arranged in
any order or succession of post..
60. These then were coming on with shouting and confused numbers,
thinking to make short work of 64 the Hellenes; and Pausanias, when the
cavalry began to attack, sent to the Athenians a horseman and said thus:
"Athenians, now that the greatest contest is set before us, namely that
which has for its issue the freedom or the slavery of Hellas, we have
been deserted by our allies, we Lacedemonians and ye Athenians, seeing
that they have run away during the night that is past. Now therefore
it is determined what we must do upon this, namely that we must defend
ourselves and protect one another as best we may. If then the cavalry
had set forth to attack you at the first, we and the Tegeans, who with
us refuse to betray the cause of Hellas, should have been bound to go to
your help; but as it is, since the whole body has come against us, it is
right that ye should come to that portion of the army which is hardest
pressed, to give aid. If however anything has happened to you which
makes it impossible for you to come to our help, then do us a kindness
by sending to us the archers; and we know that ye have been in the
course of this present war by far the most zealous of all, so that ye
will listen to our request in this matter also.".
61. When the Athenians heard this they were desirous to come to their
help and to assist them as much as possible; and as they were already
going, they were attacked by those of the Hellenes on the side of the
king who had been ranged opposite to them, so that they were no longer
able to come to the help of the Lacedemonians, for the force that
was attacking them gave them much trouble. Thus the Lacedemonians and
Tegeans were left alone, being in number, together with light-armed men,
the former fifty thousand and the Tegeans three thousand; for these
were not parted at all from the Lacedemonians: and they began to offer
sacrifice, meaning to engage battle with Mardonios and the force
which had come against them. Then since their offerings did not prove
favourable, and many of them were being slain during this time and many
more wounded,—for the Persians had made a palisade of their wicker-work
shields 65 and were discharging their arrows in great multitude and
without sparing,—Pausanias, seeing that the Spartans were hard pressed
and that the offerings did not prove favourable, fixed his gaze upon
the temple of Hera of the Plataians and called upon the goddess to help,
praying that they might by no means be cheated of their hope:.
62, and while he was yet calling upon her thus, the Tegeans started
forward before them and advanced against the Barbarians, and forthwith
after the prayer of Pausanias the offerings proved favourable for the
Lacedemonians as they sacrificed. So when this at length came to pass,
then they also advanced against the Persians; and the Persians put away
their bows and came against them. Then first there was fighting about
the wicker-work shields, and when these had been overturned, after that
the fighting was fierce by the side of the temple of Demeter, and so
continued for a long time, until at last they came to justling; for
the Barbarians would take hold of the spears and break them off. Now in
courage and in strength the Persians were not inferior to the others,
but they were without defensive armour, 66 and moreover they were
unversed in war and unequal to their opponents in skill; and they would
dart out one at a time or in groups of about ten together, some more and
some less, and fall upon the Spartans and perish..
63. In the place where Mardonios himself was, riding on a white horse
and having about him the thousand best men of the Persians chosen out
from the rest, here, I say, they pressed upon their opponents most of
all: and so long as Mardonios survived, they held out against them, and
defending themselves they cast down many of the Lacedemonians; but when
Mardonios was slain and the men who were ranged about his person, which
was the strongest portion of the whole army, had fallen, then the others
too turned and gave way before the Lacedemonians; for their manner of
dress, without defensive armour, was a very great cause of destruction
to them, since in truth they were contending light-armed against
hoplites..
64. Then the satisfaction for the murder of Leonidas was paid by
Mardonios according to the oracle given to the Spartans, 67 and the most
famous victory of all those about which we have knowledge was gained
by Pausanias the son of Cleombrotos, the son of Anaxandrides; of his
ancestors above this the names have been given for Leonidas, 68 since,
as it happens, they are the same for both. Now Mardonios was slain by
Arimnestos, 69 a man of consideration in Sparta, who afterwards, when
the Median wars were over, with three hundred men fought a battle
against the whole army of the Messenians, then at war with the
Lacedemonians, at Stenycleros, and both he was slain and also the three
hundred..
65. When the Persians were turned to flight at Plataia by the
Lacedemonians, they fled in disorder to their own camp and to the
palisade which they had made in the Theban territory: 70 and it is a
marvel to me that, whereas they fought by the side of the sacred grove
of Demeter, not one of the Persians was found to have entered the
enclosure or to have been slain within it, but round about the temple in
the unconsecrated ground fell the greater number of the slain. I suppose
(if one ought to suppose anything about divine things) that the goddess
herself refused to receive them, because they had set fire to the
temple, that is to say the "palace" 71 at Eleusis.
66. Thus far then had this battle proceeded: but Artabazos the son
of Pharnakes had been displeased at the very first because Mardonios
remained behind after the king was gone; and afterwards he had been
bringing forward objections continually and doing nothing, but had urged
them always not to fight a battle: and for himself he acted as
follows, not being pleased with the things which were being done by
Mardonios.—The men of whom Artabazos was commander (and he had with him
no small force but one which was in number as much as four myriads 72 of
men), these, when the fighting began, being well aware what the issue of
the battle would be, he led carefully, 73 having first given orders that
all should go by the way which he should lead them and at the same pace
at which they should see him go. Having given these orders he led his
troops on pretence of taking them into battle; and when he was well on
his way, he saw the Persians already taking flight. Then he no longer
led his men in the same order as before, but set off at a run, taking
flight by the quickest way not to the palisade nor yet to the wall of
the Thebans, but towards Phokis, desiring as quickly as possible to
reach the Hellespont..
67. These, I say, were thus directing their march: and in the meantime,
while the other Hellenes who were on the side of the king were purposely
slack in the fight, 74 the Boeotians fought with the Athenians for a
long space; for those of the Thebans who took the side of the Medes had
no small zeal for the cause, and they fought and were not slack, so
that three hundred of them, the first and best of all, fell there by the
hands of the Athenians: and when these also turned to flight, they fled
to Thebes, not to the same place as the Persians: and the main body of
the other allies fled without having fought constantly with any one or
displayed any deeds of valour..
68. And this is an additional proof to me that all the fortunes of the
Barbarians depended upon the Persians, namely that at that time these
men fled before they had even engaged with the enemy, because they saw
the Persians doing so. Thus all were in flight except only the cavalry,
including also that of the Boeotians; and this rendered service to the
fugitives by constantly keeping close to the enemy and separating the
fugitives of their own side from the Hellenes..
69. The victors then were coming after the troops of Xerxes, both
pursuing them and slaughtering them; and during the time when this
panic arose, the report was brought to the other Hellenes who had posted
themselves about the temple of Hera and had been absent from the battle,
that a battle had taken place and that the troops of Pausanias were
gaining the victory. When they heard this, then without ranging
themselves in any order the Corinthians and those near them turned to go
by the skirts of the mountain and by the low hills along the way which
led straight up to the temple of Demeter, while the Megarians and
Phliasians and those near them went by the plain along the smoothest
way. When however the Megarians and Phliasians came near to the enemy,
the cavalry of the Thebans caught sight of them from a distance hurrying
along without any order, and rode up to attack them, the commander of
the cavalry being Asopodoros the son of Timander; and having fallen upon
them they slew six hundred of them, and the rest they pursued and drove
to Kithairon.
70. These then perished thus ingloriously; 75 and meanwhile the Persians
and the rest of the throng, having fled for refuge to the palisade,
succeeded in getting up to the towers before the Lacedemonians came; and
having got up they strengthened the wall of defence as best they could.
Then when the Lacedemonians 76 came up to attack it, there began between
them a vigorous 77 fight for the wall: for so long as the Athenians
were away, they defended themselves and had much the advantage over
the Lacedemonians, since these did not understand the art of fighting
against walls; but when the Athenians came up to help them, then there
was a fierce fight for the wall, lasting for a long time, and at length
by valour and endurance the Athenians mounted up on the wall and made a
breach in it, through which the Hellenes poured in. Now the Tegeans were
the first who entered the wall, and these were they who plundered the
tent of Mardonios, taking, besides the other things which were in it,
also the manger of his horse, which was all of bronze and a sight worth
seeing. This manger of Mardonios was dedicated by the Tegeans as an
offering in the temple of Athene Alea, 78 but all the other things
which they took, they brought to the common stock of the Hellenes. The
Barbarians however, after the wall had been captured, no longer formed
themselves into any close body, nor did any of them think of making
resistance, but they were utterly at a loss, 79 as you might expect from
men who were in a panic with many myriads of them shut up together in a
small space: and the Hellenes were able to slaughter them so that out
of an army of thirty myriads, 80 if those four be subtracted which
Artabazos took with him in his flight, of the remainder not three
thousand men survived. Of the Lacedemonians from Sparta there were slain
in the battle ninety-one in all, of the Tegeans sixteen, and of the
Athenians two-and-fifty.