11-13-2009, 08:29 PM
I have often wondered, however, if the figure of 300 was literal or approximate. Certainly it would be 301 with the king in the centre of them all (not 299+king = 300 as Victor Davis Hanson would have it), but various authors refer to the Hippagretai as being leaders/commanders as well as selectors; and perhaps they were in the ranks in addition? I know some authors say that the Hippagretai were each a part of their respective hundred but I think they were clearly in addition to (each having to select 100 not including themselves). The figure of 304 is also actually quite subdivisable (8x38/16x19).
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Ghostmojo / Howard Johnston[/size]
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Xerxes - "What did the guy in the pass say?" ... Scout - "Μολὼν λαβέ my Lord - and he meant it!!!"[/size]
[size=75:2kpklzm3]Xerxes - "What did the guy in the pass say?" ... Scout - "Μολὼν λαβέ my Lord - and he meant it!!!"[/size]