politburo diktat 2.0

At daybreak, the leaders decided to post guards and summoned the rest of the soldiers to an assembly. Cheirosophos the Spartan spoke:

“We are in a tough spot, being deprived of many officers and soldiers, and our former allies, Ariaeus and his men, have betrayed us. But we must not give up, but must struggle as bravely as we can to achieve victory and save ourselves. Or at least to die a heroic death. But we mustn’t fall into the enemy’s hands while alive.”

Then Cleanor the Orchomenian also recounted the perfidy and blasphemy of Tissaphernes, the King, and Arieus.

Xenophon dressed in his finest uniform, believing that, if victory awaited him, such clothes were fitting, and if death, then it was also worthy to be so dressed. He continued speaking about how useless it would be to trust to Persians, and insisted that it would be better for the Greeks to stay on a warlike footing.

He was interrupted when someone sneezed, which all the soldiers took this as a favorable omen. And they resolved to offer sacrifices to Zeus in thanksgiving for their salvation, as soon as they reached friendly country. Xenophon repeats that the Greeks must honor their vows, because it is the Persians’ perjury that has caused the gods to side with the Greeks. And the gods “can quickly make the great ones small, and can save the weak from troubles, whenever they want to.”

Then Xenophon reminded the Greeks of their great victories over the Persians.¹ The Athenians stood alone and dared to achieve these victories. They had promised to sacrifice to the goddess Artemis one she-goat for every one of the enemies killed; but after the battle they could not find enough goats, so they resolved to sacrifice 500 annually instead.²

He goes on to say that they can still see the trophies of the those great victories, but the greatest proof is the freedom of the cities in which they were born and raised, where no man is master, but only gods are worshipped³ He stresses how worthy the Greek army is to carry on the noble tradition of their forefathers, having just defeated Persians a few days ago. He points out that being deserted Ariaeus and his men is no disadvantage at all, they being so cowardly, they will certainly run away again! And wouldn’t it be better to have them in the oppoenents’ ranks.

Xenophon continues in this humorous vein, with respect to their lack of cavalry:

“And if any of you are disheartened that we have no cavalry, while the enemy has many, consider that 10,000 cavalry are nothing but 10,000 men, because no one in battle has yet been bitten or kicked to death, but that men make the difference in war. And we will be on much safer footing than the horsemen, who have to hang onto their horse, fearing not only us, but also falling off. But we, standing firmly on the ground can deliver stronger blows and are more likely to hit what we aim at. The cavalry outdo us in only one way: they can run away faster than we can.”

Talk about making a virtue of necessity.

He also points out that no one should bemoan the lack of Tissaphernes’ guides nor the markets provided by the King. Tellingly, he notes that few of the Greeks have any money left anyway. I’m not sure how this will play out later in the expedition, but without money, it would seem their only recourse will be to take whatever they need from the locals. Indeed Xenophon says as much right here.

1. at Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea, about 80 years before these events [↩]
2. See here on the annual festival called Agroteras Thusia. [↩]
3. he uses the word προσκυνεῖτε (proskyneite), which he also used to describe how Orontas’ retainers honored him before his death. [↩]