08-17-2007, 02:43 AM
Quote:This is not correct, in my opinion. After Leuktra, one would have expected the Spartans to be champing at the bit for a chance to show the Thebans who was 'top dog'.
By this logic the Spartans should never have agreed to the accord described above. Had they beaten the Thebans, it would have looked like a Mantinean victory. As it is the ancients (mostly athenians, and not since the Phocians drove off the persian assault aimed at annihilating their phalanx above Thermopylae has has an ally dropped the ball like the athenians at Mantinea) went out of their way to give the honor of killing Epaminondas to one of a variety of Mantineans. Diodorus's tale of thrown spears just as he won is pure drivel. Personally I buy the story of the spartan with the sword since the author claims that privaledges were still being granted in reward to his ancestors generations later in his own time.
I think you sell the Spartans short tactically- but most do. I agree with what you posted before about the Cyropaedia. It was describing how to beat such a column, because Xenophon knew Spartan tactics, and it worked. Not in time to save the battle, but to end the war.
Compare what Xenophon says about how Agiselaos should have attacked the rear or flank during stage 2 of Koronea. (yes back to that battle again :lol: )
Paul M. Bardunias
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
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A Spartan, being asked a question, answered "No." And when the questioner said, "You lie," the Spartan said, "You see, then, that it is stupid of you to ask questions to which you already know the answer!"
