Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C. -- Fiction
Agis was not aware that the Argive generals had taken up a new
position, and thinking that the confederates were still stationed on
the hill, he gave up his scheme of diverting the water, and directed
his march towards the place where he had first encamped. As they
proceeded thus in marching order, and quite unprepared for any hostile
movement, the Spartans suddenly found themselves face to face with the
whole Argive army, drawn up in order of battle. For one instant it
seemed as if a panic were about to spread through the Spartan ranks;
then their wonderful discipline prevailed, and with all promptitude,
but without flurry or confusion, the necessary orders were passed from
the King to the commanders of divisions, from these again to the
colonels, from the colonels to the captains, and from the captains down
to the sergeants, [Footnote: I have thought it best to give the English
titles, which of course have only a general correspondence with the
Greek Polemarch, Lochagus, etc.] who in their turn had to see that the
required movement was executed by the men under their command: for such
was the regular gradation of authority and responsibility in the
Spartan army. Thanks to this perfect organization, in a very few
minutes every man was in his place and ready for battle.
On the left wing of the Spartan army were posted the Sciritae, hardy
mountaineers from southern Arcadia; next to them stood the enfranchised
Helots, who had served under Brasidas in Thrace, and others of the same
race who had received the Spartan citizenship in reward for public
service; then came the main body of the Spartans themselves, and after
them the rest of the Arcadian allies; while the right wing was assigned
by immemorial privilege to the Tegeans, with whom were a few picked
Spartans. The cavalry, never a very strong part of the Spartan army,
were posted on either flank.
On the other side the Mantineans held the place of honour on the right
wing, because the engagement was fought in their territory; next in
order were the Arcadian allies of Argos, and after them, more towards
the centre, stood a picked troop of a thousand Argives, trained and
equipped at the public expense; then followed the main body of the
Argive troops, with the rest of their allies, the Athenians occupying
the extreme left. As to the numbers engaged, nothing certain is known.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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