“Thalatta! Thalatta!” — “The sea. The sea!”
A surreal moment when The Ten Thousand - Greek mercenaries - reached the Black Sea coast after their long voyage to the heart of the Persian Empire and back
The extraordinary Odyssey is recorded in Xenophon's "Anabasis"
The thread 🧵
A surreal moment when The Ten Thousand - Greek mercenaries - reached the Black Sea coast after their long voyage to the heart of the Persian Empire and back
The extraordinary Odyssey is recorded in Xenophon's "Anabasis"
The thread 🧵
In 401 BC, the Achaemenid or the Persian Empire was the largest and richest empire in the world.
Its ruler was the King of Kings, Artaxerxes II. However, his brother Cyrus the Younger desired the throne for himself.
To do that, he needed an army... /1
Its ruler was the King of Kings, Artaxerxes II. However, his brother Cyrus the Younger desired the throne for himself.
To do that, he needed an army... /1
As his forces were insufficient to confront his brother, Cyrus the Younger hired a huge army of 10,000 #Greek hoplites.
Led by a Spartan general Clearchus, those battle-hardened men set out on a long and difficult journey to Mesopotamia, the heart of the Persian Empire. /2
Led by a Spartan general Clearchus, those battle-hardened men set out on a long and difficult journey to Mesopotamia, the heart of the Persian Empire. /2
After a months-long journey, in the late Summer of 401 BCE, the “Ten Thousand” reached a place called Cunaxa, just 70km north of #Babylon.
The 40,000-strong army of the king Artaxerxes II awaited them. The long-awaited battle was about to commence... /3
The 40,000-strong army of the king Artaxerxes II awaited them. The long-awaited battle was about to commence... /3
Despite being severely outnumbered, the "Ten Thousand" held firm.
However, Cyrus the Younger perished while charging at his elder brother. Unaware of the loss, the Greeks kept fighting, while Cyrus' army, deprived of their commander, fled from the battlefield. /4
However, Cyrus the Younger perished while charging at his elder brother. Unaware of the loss, the Greeks kept fighting, while Cyrus' army, deprived of their commander, fled from the battlefield. /4
Only when the battle ended did the brave Greek hoplites realize the severity of the situation. With Cyrus dead, the expedition was now pointless.
The "Ten Thousand" were now stranded in the middle of Mesopotamia without allies or a purpose. /5
The "Ten Thousand" were now stranded in the middle of Mesopotamia without allies or a purpose. /5
But this was also a problem for the winners. The last thing the Persians wanted was a large and well-trained mercenary army in the middle of their empire.
So a Persian satrap (governor), Tissaphernes, offered the Greeks supplies and promised to lead them back home. /6
So a Persian satrap (governor), Tissaphernes, offered the Greeks supplies and promised to lead them back home. /6
Of course, it was a ploy!
Tissaphernes invited the leading Greek officers, including Clearchus, to a feast. And he had them all killed!
The Greeks, aware of the mortal danger, quickly elected new leaders, including an Athenian called Xenophon.../7
Tissaphernes invited the leading Greek officers, including Clearchus, to a feast. And he had them all killed!
The Greeks, aware of the mortal danger, quickly elected new leaders, including an Athenian called Xenophon.../7
It was Xenophon, who proposed to immediately set off northwards, towards the Black Sea and friendly territories.
It was a long and arduous journey, as the Greek column was constantly harassed by the Persian horse-archers. /8
It was a long and arduous journey, as the Greek column was constantly harassed by the Persian horse-archers. /8
Yet, the Greeks remained resilient, changing the order of the march,forming smaller units. They also used lightly armed and highly mobile strike forces to attack the pursuer.
Time and again, "The Ten Thousand" demonstrated the ingenuity of the best military of the Greek world /9
Time and again, "The Ten Thousand" demonstrated the ingenuity of the best military of the Greek world /9
After the Greeks entered the northern reaches of the Zagros Mountains, the Persians turned back. But this gave little respite to the beleaguered warriors.
They had to defend themselves from warlike mountain tribes, and then avoid the Persian army guarding the Centrites river/10
They had to defend themselves from warlike mountain tribes, and then avoid the Persian army guarding the Centrites river/10
Once again, Greek ingenuity saved the group from certain defeat.
Xenophon’s rear guard made a feint attack against the Armenians downriver, while the army’s main body, led by the Spartan Cheirisophus, exploited the absence of hostile forces and crossed the river. /11
Xenophon’s rear guard made a feint attack against the Armenians downriver, while the army’s main body, led by the Spartan Cheirisophus, exploited the absence of hostile forces and crossed the river. /11
But the worst was yet to come: the winter in the Armenian highlands. Here, the "Ten Thousand" had to confront another treachery, but also fight against the elements — most notably, heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures.
Unsurprisingly, the Greeks managed to overcome both /12
Unsurprisingly, the Greeks managed to overcome both /12
After months of trekking through snowy mountains and losses to hostile attacks, starvation, and frostbite, Xenophon's army reached the Black Sea coast.
Upon seeing the waves, the soldiers cried out the immortal words:
“Thalatta! Thalatta!” — “The sea. The sea!” /13
Upon seeing the waves, the soldiers cried out the immortal words:
“Thalatta! Thalatta!” — “The sea. The sea!” /13
Can you imagine the joy of the exhausted but resilient warriors running forward, driving horses and baggage animals at full speed?
Surreal nature of the scene became even more potent after the rearguard cavalry, assuming the enemy had attacked the front, rushed forward... /14
Surreal nature of the scene became even more potent after the rearguard cavalry, assuming the enemy had attacked the front, rushed forward... /14
But there was no enemy in sight.
Instead, the officers could see only a vast expanse of water and stalwart soldiers. The battle-hardened veterans embraced each other, crying tears of joy.
Here at the shores of the Black Sea, the "Ten Thousand" found their road home. /15
Instead, the officers could see only a vast expanse of water and stalwart soldiers. The battle-hardened veterans embraced each other, crying tears of joy.
Here at the shores of the Black Sea, the "Ten Thousand" found their road home. /15
The Black Sea marked the beginning of Greek-held territory. However, this was not the end of the "Ten Thousand's" journey.
The locals lacked ships, so the Greeks continued their march. Finally, after defeating a hostile satrap, Pharnabazus, the "Ten Thousand" got its boats /16
The locals lacked ships, so the Greeks continued their march. Finally, after defeating a hostile satrap, Pharnabazus, the "Ten Thousand" got its boats /16
After reaching the safety of the Greek colony of Byzantion (the future #Constantinople), the epic march of the "Ten Thousand" truly came to an end.
After returning back to Athens, Xenophon recorded the epic adventure and extraordinary odyssey in his work "The Anabasis." /17
After returning back to Athens, Xenophon recorded the epic adventure and extraordinary odyssey in his work "The Anabasis." /17
Inspired by Anabasis, Alexander the Great would embark on his famous campaign, and erase the Achaemenid Empire from #history.
Thus, the Hellenistic World and its legacy are an indirect result of the ambition of one Persian leader and the bravery of the "Ten Thousand." /18
Thus, the Hellenistic World and its legacy are an indirect result of the ambition of one Persian leader and the bravery of the "Ten Thousand." /18
Oh, and if you are like me, a visual type,
The area the "Ten Thousand" had to travel. From Cunaxa to Trapezus, a 1500 km long march! In full military gear, surrounded by hostile forces, and even more hostile terrain and climate
And they did it!
Why no one is making a movie!?
The area the "Ten Thousand" had to travel. From Cunaxa to Trapezus, a 1500 km long march! In full military gear, surrounded by hostile forces, and even more hostile terrain and climate
And they did it!
Why no one is making a movie!?
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