Description
Book SynopsisThe Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE is one of world history''s unjustly neglected events. It decisively ended the threat of a Persian conquest of Greece. It involved tens of thousands of combatants, including the largest number of Greeks ever brought together in a common cause. For the Spartans, the driving force behind the Greek victory, the battle was sweet vengeance for their defeat at Thermopylae the year before. Why has this pivotal battle been so overlooked?In After Thermopylae, Paul Cartledge masterfully reopens one of the great puzzles of ancient Greece to discover, as much as possible, what happened on the field of battle and, just as important, what happened to its memory. Part of the answer to these questions, Cartledge argues, can be found in a little-known oath reputedly sworn by the leaders of Athens, Sparta, and several other Greek city-states prior to the battle-the Oath of Plataea. Through an analysis of this oath, Cartledge provides a wealth of insight into ancient Greek
Trade ReviewAfter Thermopylae is completely consistent with the commonsense, well-written, and comprehensive scholarship that we have come to expect from Paul Cartledge. His endeavour has produced a carefully and well-researched book, which stands as an important contribution not only to ancient Greek warfare but also to the larger issues of reception and cultural memory. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
The book seeks to reach a broad general readership, and is written in lucid and lively prose. * Nick Romeo, Times Literary Supplement *
This book is a thoughtful and engaging starting-point for anyone interested not only in the Graeco-Persian Wars, but also in the way future generations use the memory of war. * Bijan Omrani, Military History Monthly *
Highly recommended. * S.M. Burstein, CHOICE *
Table of ContentsDedication ; Preface & Acknowledgements ; Maps ; Timeline ; 1. Introduction: Arms and the Men ; 2. The Oath of Plataea: Texts and Contexts ; 3. The Plataea Oath as a Document of Ancient Greek Religion ; 4. The Persian Wars: Making History on Oath with Herodotus ; 5. The Face of the Battle of Plataea ; 6. The Greeks Invent the Persian Wars: the Mythology and Commemoration of ; Plataea ; 7. Conclusion: The Legacy of Plataea ; Further Reading ; Bibliography ; Index
