Persian Invasion of 480 BC - articles

[hoplite14gr]

As for non-combatants:
They have their use too.
Let us not forget that many Ionian and Cypriot cities were reduced when the Persians created masive earth mounds and made their walls auntennable.
If Xerxes had calculated that he would face siege actions perhaps labourers would be eqully important as fighters and they do not need to be engaged in a field action if sufficent fighters are present.
To the classicall Greeks who had limited resources for siege warfare even these labourers were big problem especially for small cities.

Kind regards