What the description of Sphacteria has to tell us

[Paralus]

Giannis--exhaustion and casualties are actually related--just because they were Spartans doesn't mean they were without fear.

Clearly correct.

Like any HOPLITE, Epitadas went forward to fight the enemy HOPLITES, and virtually ignored the peltasts. I think that this is as important a point as any other. This is a period where the use of Peltasts and psiloi and archers as serious battlefield troops is in its infancy (at least in Greece).

I think Kineas correct. The language suggests that it was the Athenian hoplites that the Spartans were interested in. This is expected as it is a function of the times. As Kineas says, the planned tactical use of light armed was not a major factor in Greek warfare. It is remarked upon when it is – such as Iphictrates thirty or more years later.

If one reads the description of this struggle – particularly the mounting of the second force at Athens under Cleon – we can see that it is Demosthenes that Thucydides actually slights or dismisses. Thucydides’ description of the entire operation would have it that its success was entirely down to luck. Clues exist, though, that Demosthenes had planned this from the outset. He clearly always intended to use light armed troops (4.34.4) and these troops had already been recruited for him in Athens. When foisted “the commandâ€