Shedinja on Nostr: Exerpt from Herodotus's Histories, Book 6.109-110 on the Battle of Marathon: "The ...
Exerpt from Herodotus's Histories, Book 6.109-110 on the Battle of Marathon:
"The Athenian generals were divided in their opinions: some were against joining the battle, thinking their own numbers were too few to engage the forces of the Medes, while others, including Miltiades, urged that they fight. So they disagreed, and the worst of the two proposals seemed to be prevailing when Miltiades went up to the polemarch at that time, one Kallimachos of Aphidna, who had been selected by lot for his office as polemarch of the Athenians. It was he who had the eleventh vote, for in the old days the Athenians used to grant the polemarch an equal vote with their generals. Miltiades said to Kallimachos, 'It is now up to you, Kallimachos, whether you will reduce Athens to slavery or ensure its freedom and thus leave to all posterity a memorial for yourself which will exceed even that of Harmodios and Aristogeiton (legendary tyrant slayers of Athens). For from the time Athenians first came into existence up until the present, this is the greatest danger they have ever confronted. If they bow down before the Medes, it is clear from our past experience what they will suffer when handed over to Hippias; but if this city prevails, it can become the first among all Greek cities. I shall explain to you how matters really stand and how the authority to decide this matter has come to rest with you. We ten generals are evenly divided in our opinions, some urging that we join battle, others that we do not. If we fail to fight now, I expect that intense factional strife will fall upon the Athenians and shake their resolve so violently that they will medize (defect to the Persian side). But if we join battle before any rot can infect some of the Athenians, then, as long as the gods grant both sides equal treatment, we can prevail in this engagement. All this is now in your hands and depends on you. If you add your vote for my proposal, your ancestral land can be free and your city the first of Greek cities. But if you choose the side of those eager to prevent a battle, you will have the opposite of all the good things I have described.'
6.110
"Miltiades' arguments persuaded Kallimachos, and when the polemarch's vote was added to the tally, the decision was made to join battle."
In 6.114 Herodotus says, "It was in this struggle that the polemarch Kallimachos perished, having proven himself a noble and courageous warrior"
"The Athenian generals were divided in their opinions: some were against joining the battle, thinking their own numbers were too few to engage the forces of the Medes, while others, including Miltiades, urged that they fight. So they disagreed, and the worst of the two proposals seemed to be prevailing when Miltiades went up to the polemarch at that time, one Kallimachos of Aphidna, who had been selected by lot for his office as polemarch of the Athenians. It was he who had the eleventh vote, for in the old days the Athenians used to grant the polemarch an equal vote with their generals. Miltiades said to Kallimachos, 'It is now up to you, Kallimachos, whether you will reduce Athens to slavery or ensure its freedom and thus leave to all posterity a memorial for yourself which will exceed even that of Harmodios and Aristogeiton (legendary tyrant slayers of Athens). For from the time Athenians first came into existence up until the present, this is the greatest danger they have ever confronted. If they bow down before the Medes, it is clear from our past experience what they will suffer when handed over to Hippias; but if this city prevails, it can become the first among all Greek cities. I shall explain to you how matters really stand and how the authority to decide this matter has come to rest with you. We ten generals are evenly divided in our opinions, some urging that we join battle, others that we do not. If we fail to fight now, I expect that intense factional strife will fall upon the Athenians and shake their resolve so violently that they will medize (defect to the Persian side). But if we join battle before any rot can infect some of the Athenians, then, as long as the gods grant both sides equal treatment, we can prevail in this engagement. All this is now in your hands and depends on you. If you add your vote for my proposal, your ancestral land can be free and your city the first of Greek cities. But if you choose the side of those eager to prevent a battle, you will have the opposite of all the good things I have described.'
6.110
"Miltiades' arguments persuaded Kallimachos, and when the polemarch's vote was added to the tally, the decision was made to join battle."
In 6.114 Herodotus says, "It was in this struggle that the polemarch Kallimachos perished, having proven himself a noble and courageous warrior"