Athenian military
(Redirected from
Athenian navy
)The Athenian military was the old main force of
Athens, one of the major city-states (poleis) of Ancient Greece. It was largely similar to other armies of the region – see Ancient Greek warfare
.
Army
In the manner of neighboring city-states, the backbone of the Athenian military on land was the
skirmishers before the pitched battle and were assigned to guard the camp during the actual fight. When the battle was over, they would attempt either to cover the retreat of the main body or slaughter the fleeing enemy forces if their own hoplites were victorious.[2]
During and after the
pelte.[2] Their effectiveness in battle, even against the best-trained heavy hoplites, was demonstrated by the Athenian general Iphicrates, who annihilated an entire Spartan mora with his peltasts.[3]
During the
triremes. With its fleet, Athens obtained hegemony over the rest of the Greek city-states forming the First Athenian Empire. Its fleet was destroyed and its empire lost during the Peloponnesian War. Athens regained some of its naval power after the Second Athenian League was rebuilt; however, it never fully recovered as its rivals were much stronger than before. The fleet included two sacred ships, the Paralus and the Salaminia used for diplomatic and ceremonial duties.[2]
See also
- Scythian archers, possible military police employed by Athens
References
- )
- ^ ISBN 9781419100796.
- ISBN 9780415966092.
Sources
- This article incorporates text from A Day in Old Athens, by William Stearns Davis, a publication from 1910, now in the public domain in the United States.