Originally posted by M21Sniper
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Worst battle to be in for a soldier?
Collapse
X
-
Originally posted by spartenYes I did. Will post as soon as I get a new scanner (the last one died in a power surge). I refuse to go digital, 35mm is a lot better!.
The main guide their was ex Greek army, he told us that
1) The main lesson of Thermopyle is not bravery great as that was, but smart use of the terrain.
2) How many the Persians were engaged at any given time? He says the best estimate he could make was about 8~10,000. So they were never really outnumbered when it came to the fighting.In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.
Leibniz
Comment
-
"
2) How many the Persians were engaged at any given time? He says the best estimate he could make was about 8~10,000. So they were never really outnumbered when it came to the fighting."
300 vs 8-10,000 is not out numbered?
Comment
-
Originally posted by M21Sniper"
2) How many the Persians were engaged at any given time? He says the best estimate he could make was about 8~10,000. So they were never really outnumbered when it came to the fighting."
300 vs 8-10,000 is not out numbered?"Any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy, which qualifies life for immortality." ~ George William Russell
Comment
-
Originally posted by spartenThey were not the only ones there. 7000 in all.
The final battle was fought over several(3 IIRC) days by the 300 spartans- alone.
At least, every historic account i've ever seen says so.
Comment
-
Originally posted by M21SniperThanx sir.
So, revised question: 8-10k vs 300 isn't outnumbered?
The final battle was fought over several(3 IIRC) days by the 300 spartans- alone
The Persian accounts of the battle were supossed to exist in Alexandria Liabary.
All in all no one doubted the Spartans courage. Even Xeres when he had calmed down."Any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy, which qualifies life for immortality." ~ George William Russell
Comment
-
Originally posted by spartenIt is. But its not 100,000.
The guy there said that the final battle (the Spartans and the rest) was only on the last day. Greek deaths were about 4000 total through the three days. Leondies sent everybody home after it was clear that the end was near. And the Persians finished the rest off mostly with arrows. And then The Immortals moved in and finished the Spartans off. Interestingly it seems the Immortals may not have been engaged until then.
The Persian accounts of the battle were supossed to exist in Alexandria Liabary.
All in all no one doubted the Spartans courage. Even Xeres when he had calmed down.
Every version i've ever seen has the 300 spartans alonea(or nearly so) for the final couple days fighting surrounded(remember the persians came up the pass behind them as well). They were finally finished off with arrows because they killed so many of Xerxes army in HTH. Furious, Xerxes supposedly ordered them shot down.
"It is. But its not 100,000"
It's still 100k, it's just not 100k at once. And regardless, it is believed to have been a lot more than 100k anyway!
Comment
-
Originally posted by M21SniperEvery version i've ever seen has the 300 spartans alonea(or nearly so) for the final couple days fighting surrounded(remember the persians came up the pass behind them as well). They were finally finished off with arrows because they killed so many of Xerxes army in HTH. Furious, Xerxes supposedly ordered them shot down.
BTW arrows are more or less useless overthere. The position of the armies was such that they either overshot or missed. Until they closed in. Either way it was still the Immortals who finished them off.
Leondies got immortality, Xerxes got Esther. Fair result if you ask me.
Back to worse battles
Khalid Bin Walids dispatch from the Battle of Yarmouk, said that some archer just died due to the strain of firing shots after shots in the heat. Facing the Roman Legions right after an 18 day forced march through the desert, can't be good."Any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy, which qualifies life for immortality." ~ George William Russell
Comment
-
Originally posted by parihakaIIRC isn't the terrain much broader now than it was at the time due to the ongoing geothermal activity?
Comment
-
Originally posted by BulgaroctonusSilt from the Spercheius River has created a plain about 1-3 miles wide. In 480 BC, it was probably only about 14 yards across, and consisted of only a gravel track under the cliffs.
Interesting bit about the Immortals, they made short work of the remaining Spartans.
Of course the remaining were about ready to die of exhaustion anyway.
BTW I estimated it at about 1.5 KM.Last edited by sparten; 26 Feb 06,, 18:36."Any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy, which qualifies life for immortality." ~ George William Russell
Comment
-
Originally posted by sparten
The guy there said that the final battle (the Spartans and the rest) was only on the last day. Greek deaths were about 4000 total through the three days. Leondies sent everybody home after it was clear that the end was near. And the Persians finished the rest off mostly with arrows. And then The Immortals moved in and finished the Spartans off.
The fighting was said to have been extremely brutal, even for hoplite combat. As their numbers diminished the Greeks retreated to a small hill in the narrowest part of the pass. The Thebans took this opportunity to surrender to the Persians[1]. After their spears broke, the Spartans and Thespians kept fighting with their xiphos short swords, and after those broke, they were said to have fought with their bare hands and teeth. Although the Greeks killed many Persians, including two of Xerxes' brothers, Leonidas was eventually killed, but rather than surrender the Spartans fought fanatically to defend his body. To avoid losing any more men the Persians killed the last of the Spartans with flights of arrows.
Originally posted by spartenInterestingly it seems the Immortals may not have been engaged until then.
Notes:
1. Herodotus' account of the Battle of Thermopylae http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Herother.html
Comment
-
Originally posted by spartenI had the same opinion. The guy there said differently. Apparently almost alone ment a few thousand.
BTW arrows are more or less useless overthere. The position of the armies was such that they either overshot or missed. Until they closed in. Either way it was still the Immortals who finished them off.
Leondies got immortality, Xerxes got Esther. Fair result if you ask me.
Back to worse battles
Khalid Bin Walids dispatch from the Battle of Yarmouk, said that some archer just died due to the strain of firing shots after shots in the heat. Facing the Roman Legions right after an 18 day forced march through the desert, can't be good.
How very ambiguous.
Comment
Comment