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Herodotus · Histories §9.28.1-9.28.6

Athenians Gain the Left Wing and the Greek Order of Battle

Passage 1483 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

With the support of the Lacedaemonians, the Athenians secure the left wing, and the detailed battle array and troop numbers of the entire Greek allied force at Plataea are described in order from the right to the left wing.

§9.28.1οἱ μὲν ταῦτα ἀμείβοντο, Λακεδαιμονίων δὲ ἀνέβωσε ἅπαν τὸ στρατόπεδον Ἀθηναίους ἀξιονικοτέρους εἶναι ἔχειν τὸ κέρας ἤ περ Ἀρκάδας. οὕτω δὴ ἔσχον οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι καὶ ὑπερεβάλοντο τοὺς Τεγεήτας.
They answered thus, and the whole camp of the Lacedaemonians shouted out that the Athenians were more worthy to hold the wing than the Arcadians. Thus indeed the Athenians obtained the post and surpassed the Tegeans. They answered thus, and the whole camp of the Lacedaemonians shouted out that the Athenians were more worthy to hold the wing than the Arcadians. Thus indeed the Athenians obtained the post and surpassed the Tegeans.
§9.28.2μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἐτάσσοντο ὧδε οἱ ἐπιφοιτῶντές τε καὶ οἱ ἀρχὴν ἐλθόντες Ἑλλήνων. τὸ μὲν δεξιὸν κέρας εἶχον Λακεδαιμονίων μύριοι· τούτων δὲ τοὺς πεντακισχιλίους ἐόντας Σπαρτιήτας ἐφύλασσον ψιλοὶ τῶν εἱλώτων πεντακισχίλιοι καὶ τρισμύριοι, περὶ ἄνδρα ἕκαστον ἑπτὰ τεταγμένοι.
After this, the Greeks who had joined later and those who had come from the beginning were marshaled in this way: the right wing was held by ten thousand of the Lacedaemonians; of these, the five thousand who were Spartans were guarded by thirty-five thousand light-armed Helots, seven being posted around each man. After this, the Greeks who had joined later and those who had come from the beginning were marshaled in this way: the right wing was held by ten thousand of the Lacedaemonians; of these, the five thousand who were Spartans were guarded by thirty-five thousand light-armed Helots, seven being posted around each man.
§9.28.3προσεχέας δὲ σφίσι εἵλοντο ἑστάναι οἱ Σπαρτιῆται τοὺς Τεγεήτας καὶ τιμῆς εἵνεκα καὶ ἀρετῆς· τούτων δʼ ἦσαν ὁπλῖται χίλιοι καὶ πεντακόσιοι. μετὰ δὲ τούτους ἵσταντο Κορινθίων πεντακισχίλιοι, παρὰ δὲ σφίσι εὕροντο παρὰ Παυσανίεω ἑστάναι Ποτιδαιητέων τῶν ἐκ Παλλήνης τοὺς παρεόντας τριηκοσίους.
The Spartans chose to have the Tegeans stand next to them, both for the sake of honor and of valor; of these there were fifteen hundred hoplites. After these stood five thousand Corinthians, and next to them, they obtained from Pausanias that those of the Potidaeans from Pallene who were present, numbering three hundred, should stand. The Spartans chose to have the Tegeans stand next to them, both for the sake of honor and of valor; of these there were fifteen hundred hoplites. After these stood five thousand Corinthians, and next to them, they obtained from Pausanias that those of the Potidaeans from Pallene who were present, numbering three hundred, should stand.
§9.28.4τούτων δὲ ἐχόμενοι ἵσταντο Ἀρκάδες Ὀρχομένιοι ἑξακόσιοι, τούτων δὲ Σικυώνιοι τρισχίλιοι. τούτων δὲ εἴχοντο Ἐπιδαυρίων ὀκτακόσιοι. παρὰ δὲ τούτους Τροιζηνίων ἐτάσσοντο χίλιοι, Τροιζηνίων δὲ ἐχόμενοι Λεπρεητέων διηκόσιοι, τούτων δὲ Μυκηναίων καὶ Τιρυνθίων τετρακόσιοι, τούτων δὲ ἐχόμενοι Φλειάσιοι χίλιοι. παρὰ δὲ τούτους ἔστησαν Ἑρμιονέες τριηκόσιοι.
Holding next to these stood six hundred Arcadians from Orchomenus, and next to them three thousand Sicyonians. Adjoining these were eight hundred Epidaurians. Next to these were marshaled one thousand Troezenians, and holding next to the Troezenians two hundred Lepreans, and next to these four hundred Mycenaeans and Tirynthians, and holding next to these one thousand Phliasians. Next to these stood three hundred Hermionians. Holding next to these stood six hundred Arcadians from Orchomenus, and next to them three thousand Sicyonians. Adjoining these were eight hundred Epidaurians. Next to these were marshaled one thousand Troezenians, and holding next to the Troezenians two hundred Lepreans, and next to these four hundred Mycenaeans and Tirynthians, and holding next to these one thousand Phliasians. Next to these stood three hundred Hermionians.
§9.28.5Ἑρμιονέων δὲ ἐχόμενοι ἵσταντο Ἐρετριέων τε καὶ Στυρέων ἑξακόσιοι, τούτων δὲ Χαλκιδέες τετρακόσιοι, τούτων δὲ Ἀμπρακιητέων πεντακόσιοι. μετὰ δὲ τούτους Λευκαδίων καὶ Ἀνακτορίων ὀκτακόσιοι ἔστησαν, τούτων δὲ ἐχόμενοι Παλέες οἱ ἐκ Κεφαλληνίης διηκόσιοι.
Holding next to the Hermionians stood six hundred Eretrians and Styrians, and next to them four hundred Chalcidians, and next to them five hundred Ambraciots. After these stood eight hundred Leucadians and Anactorians, and holding next to them two hundred Paleans from Cephallenia. Holding next to the Hermionians stood six hundred Eretrians and Styrians, and next to them four hundred Chalcidians, and next to them five hundred Ambraciots. After these stood eight hundred Leucadians and Anactorians, and holding next to them two hundred Paleans from Cephallenia.
§9.28.6μετὰ δὲ τούτους Αἰγινητέων πεντακόσιοι ἐτάχθησαν. παρὰ δὲ τούτους ἐτάσσοντο Μεγαρέων τρισχίλιοι. εἴχοντο δὲ τούτων Πλαταιέες ἑξακόσιοι. τελευταῖοι δὲ καὶ πρῶτοι Ἀθηναῖοι ἐτάσσοντο, κέρας ἔχοντες τὸ εὐώνυμον, ὀκτακισχίλιοι· ἐστρατήγεε δʼ αὐτῶν Ἀριστείδης ὁ Λυσιμάχου.
After these, five hundred Aeginetans were marshaled. Next to these were marshaled three thousand Megarians. Adjoining these were six hundred Plataeans. And last and first, the Athenians were marshaled, holding the left wing, numbering eight thousand; and their general was Aristides, the son of Lysimachus. And last and first, the Athenians were marshaled, holding the left wing, numbering eight thousand; and their general was Aristides, the son of Lysimachus.

Notes

  1. §9.28.1ἀξιονικοτέρους εἶναι ἔχειν τὸ κέρας — ἀξιονικοτέρους is the masculine plural accusative of the adjective ἀξιονικότερος, meaning more worthy of victory or having a better claim to honor. The infinitive ἔχειν (to hold) limits its application, expressing the aspect or result (more worthy to hold).
  2. §9.28.2πεντακισχίλιοι καὶ τρισμύριοι — The numeral for thirty-five thousand. It corresponds exactly to the calculation of seven (ἑπτὰ) Helots being assigned to each of the five thousand (πεντακισχίλιοι) Spartans mentioned just before (5,000 × 7 = 35,000).
  3. §9.28.3εὕροντο παρὰ Παυσανίεω ἑστάναι — εὕροντο is the aorist middle of εὑρίσκω, meaning obtained for themselves or secured. It describes how they secured permission from Pausanias to stand. The accusative τοὺς παρεόντας τριηκοσίους serves as the subject of the infinitive ἑστάναι.
  4. §9.28.6τελευταῖοι δὲ καὶ πρῶτοι — Last and first. This expression indicates spatially that the Athenians were positioned at the very end (the left wing), furthest from the Spartans on the right wing, while simultaneously emphasizing their privileged status as first (highest in honor) next to the Spartans.

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §9.28.1-9.28.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.28.1-9.28.6

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