Plataea (479 BCE)
A satellite photo of the town can be found here and this is the battlefield.
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Plataea (479 BCE) |
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| Unless otherwise indicated, pictures on this page © Marco Prins and Jona Lendering. Photos can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes, but you have to acknowledge Livius. | ||
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In 480, the Persian king Xerxes invaded Greece. After victories at Thermopylae and Artemisium and a minor setback in the straits of Salamis, it seemed as if he would return to Greece to finish the job in the summer of 479. However, the Persian commander in Europe, Mardonius, had unsufficient troops to overcome the Greek army that united at the Cithaeron mountain range. On the plain north of Plataea, a confused battle took place, and the Persians were defeated. This picture shows Plataea and its plain, seen from Mount Cithaeron in the south. |
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The Spartan general Pausanias, commander of the army of the united Greek. Bust at the Musei Capitolini, Roma (Italy). | |
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Map of the battle site of Plataea. The Greeks first held the line of
sources in the south, later tried to advance to the river, and were repelled.
When they retreated, the Persians believed they had already won the day,
crossed the river, and were defeated by the superior phalanx
of the Spartans. The Athenians captured the Persian camp.
A satellite photo of the town can be found here and this is the battlefield. |
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