CLA2102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Laconic Phrase, Themistocles, Defensive Wall

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: CLA2102
• Professor: Rajiv Bhola

Document Summary

Called the hot gates" because there were a lot of hot springs. Greeks could keep the persian army funneled and cut them of by artemesium. Xerxes didn"t think the greek would be a problem. This is a straight path to the south. Natural barriers were efecive in keeping people separate. Persian ships were coming in; they were faster and they had greater manoeuvrability. They needed to lure the persian navy into the straits to keep them limited. Rather than sinking them, they would commandeer them. To do this, they had to increase the number of men on their own ships with hoplites to then board the enemy ships. Criical to success: that land forces and naval forces work together. Both artemesium and thermopylae had to be held: if one fell, they both fell. Numbers on both sides are some mater of debate: Spartans were in command of the leet at artemesium and troops at thermopylae.