After Thermopylae: The Oath of Plataea and the End of the Graeco-Persian Wars

234 Pages·2013·2.223 MB·English

by  Paul Cartledge

AFTER THERMOPYLAE
emblems of antiquity
Font of Life
Ambrose, Augustine, and the Mystery of Baptism
GARRY WILLS
Medusa’s Gaze
The Extraordinary Journey of the Tazza Farnese
MARINA BELOZERSKAYA
The Throne of Adulis
Red Sea Wars on the Eve of Islam
G. W. BOWERSOCK
After Thermopylae
The Oath of Plataea and the End of the
Graeco-Persian Wars
PAUL CARTLEDGE
After
Thermopylae
THE OATH OF PLATAEA AND THE END
OF THE GRAECOPERSIAN WARS
x
PAUL CARTLEDGE

1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cartledge, Paul.
After Th ermopylae : the oath of Plataea and the end of the
Graeco-Persian Wars / Paul Cartledge.
pages cm.—(Emblems of antiquity)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-974732-0
1. Plataea, Battle of, Plataiai, Greece, 479 b.c. I. Title.
DF225.7.C37 2013
938(cid:1).03—dc23 2013010296
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
o n acid-free paper
To the memory of John David Lewis (1955–2012)
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Contents
List of Maps and Illustrations i x
Preface and Acknowledgments x i
Maps xvi
Timeline xxv
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION: ARMS AND THE MEN 3
Chapter Two
THE OATH OF PLATAEA: TEXTS AND
CONTEXTS 12
Chapter Three
THE PLATAEA OATH AS A DOCUMENT OF
ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION 41
Chapter Four
THE PERSIAN WARS: MAKING HISTORY ON
OATH WITH HERODOTUS 59
Chapter Five
THE FACE OF THE BATTLE OF PLATAEA 88
Chapter Six
THE GREEKS INVENT THE PERSIAN WARS: THE
MYTHOLOGY AND COMMEMORATION OF
PLATAEA 122
Chapter Seven
CONCLUSION: THE LEGACY OF PLATAEA 162
Further Reading 169
Bibliography 1 81
Index 189

CONTENTS
viii
Maps and Illustrations
Map 1. Th e Aegean Greek World in the Classical Period xvi
Map 2. Central and Southern Mainland Greece xix

Map 3. Th e Persian Empire x x
Map 4. Sketch Map of the Plataea Battle, Middle Phase xxii
Fig. 1.1. Th e stele of Pentelic marble at ancient Acharnae 2
Fig. 4.1. I dealized image of Herodotus 61
Fig. 4.2. Th e Great King of Persia, Darius I 70
Fig. 5.1. Attic red-fi gure jug c. 410–400 90

Fig. 5.2. Th e “Immortals,” depicted on glazed bricks from the
Palace of Susa, Iran 108

Fig. 5.3. Bronze fi gurine of Spartan commander, 6th century
bce 111

Fig. 5.4. Bronze helmet of the “Corinthian” type 112
Fig. 6.1. Th e “Serpent Column” monument 134
Fig. 6.2. Frieze from the Athenians’ Temple of Athena Nike 151