02-13-2012, 06:34 PM
Quote:Correct, yet, not all had to be used simultaneously. Xerxes needed strategical depth and the ability to lose a battle or two without losing the campaign. A huge army would not only ensure survivability but also the cooperation of many Greeks and dissent among those set against him, speed (since he could engage in side campaigns and sieges without having to keep his army immobile) and of course the ability to keep garrisons in key positions and the loyalty of his allies. There would have been a balance between all those factors and it is up to us to debate whether that would be 100 thousand, 300 thousand, 1 mil or more men.
There is precious little "speed" in the mustering and moving of 300,000 or a million men. Such numbers to an ancient supply chain are nothing more than so many encumbrances. The mobility of Mardonius' forces between Xerxes' departure and Plataea do speak to large figures.
Paralus|Michael Park
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους
Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!
Academia.edu
