Xerxes Five Million Men

[hoplite14gr]

Herodotus was accused even by Plutarchos for exaggeration.
The large Asiatic plains would be able to support big populations compared to Europe an therefore bigger armies. 5 million is certainly too much though!!
An Army of 450 000 would be possible for Xerxes to raise but his first problem would be how to supply it after he entered the smaller plains of Europe and second the quality of the army. It was possible to field 1000 ships including boats and transport ships and have another 200.000 people there but I doubt if more than 60 to 70 000 of them were combatants.
Various mobs and camp followers were attaching themselves to armies from the dawn of time but they were almost always a liability.
No chance that he would raise millions!