Greeks always fought outnumbered?

[Idomeneas]

I think this would be a very extreme position. Who says so? There are many examples of Greeks fighting while having numerical advantage.

First of all, we would have to exclude every conflict between Greeks, since one of them would probably have a numerical advantage...

"Barbarians" were the enemy I believe in the original post. I suspect the point is that Helleno-centric sources have brave Greeks and Macedonians outfight myriads of barbarians. The rubbish began with Herodotus and was carried on by a clearly silly Xenophon who might have had 1,200,000 Persians at Cunaxa had the king's bastard brother fronted. Arrian's 600,000 at Issus is a fantasy as is his 1,000,000 at Gaugamela.

"You shouldn't have speared him! Always remember, we're Greek hoplites!" (They'll run away...)

It is true that sources could be biased and exaggerate the number of the opponents. Offcourse the Greeks didnt fight always outnumbered. But many times did.And its logical, since Greece is actually a small mountainous country and couldnt support really big population. Also we have to understand that the class of hoplites (i dont even mention the hippeis) was actually the middle class. You had to have some fortune in order to be able to have a kit. And many reforms in ancient Greek society had exactly this goal. To boost the numbers of hoplites.

Personaly i dont get the feeling that ancient writers and historians praise so much the individual prowess of the greek warrior but actually they praise the system of phalanx. Even for Spartans it is clearly stated. They are no better than any other Greek warrior as individuals. In fact a rich Athenian who could hire an hoplodidaskalos he might be much better.

To conclude, its quite possible a small unit to overcome an outnumbering opponent if there is a fighting system. And the Greeks had the best around those days. Thats a fact. The fact that all greek cities had to adopt it or lose in rediculus heroic era fights, says it all. Then it was the turn of the neighbours to get the treatment which lead to the fact that Persian empire was one of the best employers of greek hoplites.