Battle of Sepeia information

At the Battle of Sepeia (Ancient Greek: Σήπεια; c. 494 BC^[1]), the Spartan forces of Cleomenes I defeated the Argives, fully establishing Spartan dominance in the Peloponnese.^[2] The Battle of Sepeia is infamous for having the highest number of casualties within a battle during the classical Greek period.^[3]

The closest thing to a contemporaneous source for the description of the battle is, as for many events in this time period, the Histories of Herodotus (written approximately fifty years later, c. 440 BC).^[4] Herodotus provides context of the political, military and economic landscape of the Peloponnese before, during and after the Battle of Sepeia.^[4] During the 5th century Sparta was one of the largest military powers in the Peloponnese.^[4] This is evident through the Spartans' victory over Argos in the Battle of the 300 Champions (546 BC) ^[5] to gain control over the highly disputed territory of Thyrea. However, the Argives sought revenge on Sparta, seizing back control of Thyrea approximately fifty years after the Battle of the 300 Champions.^[6] Ultimately, this reignited tensions between the Spartans and the Argives, driving the two forces to engage in what is now known as the Battle of Sepeia.^[7]

The Spartan forces were led by the Agiad King Cleomenes I.^[3] Cleomenes wished to take action against Argos. The King often used religion as a political tool of manipulation to enlist the support of the Spartan people.^[8] Thus, Cleomenes sent four Púthιoι to the Oracle of Delphi (also known as Pythia) seeking the oracles support and religious reassurance.^[9] Cleomenes proclaimed that the Oracle of Delphi predicted Sparta’s triumph over Argive forces in a future battle.^[4] Thus, Cleomenes had gained the religious approval necessary to enlist the support of the Spartan people to wage war on Argos.^[3]

The Argive forces also sought the advice of the Oracle of Delphi.^[4] However, the Oracle foretold the Argives of their looming defeat in a future battle.^[6] Thus, the Argives were cautious of their Spartan enemies, and reluctant to engage in battle if not forced to do so.^[10]

Ultimately, when the Battle of Sepeia began, the foretold predictions by the Oracle of Delphi, dictated the stratagems employed by the Spartans and the Argives respectively.^[8] The Argives, cautious of the Spartan’s predicted victory, decided to listen to the Spartan Herald’s commands to his troops and copy what the Herald said.^[8] This allowed for the Argives to take their meal breaks at the same time as the Spartans, ensuring the Spartans would not attack the Argives when not prepared for battle.^[8] When Cleomenes became aware that the Argives were paying close attention to the Herald’s orders, he instructed his forces to ignore the next mealtime call and attack at this call instead.^[4] When the Herald made his call for a mealtime break, the Spartans attacked an unsuspecting Argive force.^[4] Many Argives were slaughtered, with the surviving hoplites seeking refuge in a nearby grove named ‘The Sacred Grove of Apollo’.^[11]

Cleomenes, unwilling to leave any Argive survivors, devised a strategy to trick the hoplites into leaving the Grove’s religious and physical protection ^[8] Cleomenes deceived the Argive men into believing that a ransom had been granted and paid – allowing for their release.^[4] However, when an Argive man tried to walk free, they were executed.^[11] When the Argives realised what was occurring, they stopped responding to the ransom calls. Consequently, Cleomenes set the grove on fire forcing the remaining hoplites out of the grove’s protection.^[12] The Battle of Sepeia resulted in approximately 6000 deaths, accounting for an estimated fifty per cent of the Argive population.^[8]

The significance of this Battle is illustrated through the revolution of the Argive political system. The doûloι experienced an elevated social status,^[4] due to the loss of noble Argive men ^[12]