Are the Greeks Perfect?
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Are the Greeks Perfect?
When other countries were discussed, mainly their technological advances, Herodotus clearly displayed his belief that Greece was the ultimate standard of perfection. Having been born in Halicarnassus of Asia Minor, a Greek settlement, Herodotus inherited the natural patriotism for his home country. His way of exalting Greece was by describing other countries as very much inferior to Greece. The readers must understand that the reason Herodotus is recording history and not some Persian historian is because the Greeks defeated the Persians in the Persian War. Also, the readers must acknowledge that the speeches contained in Herodotuss account of the Persian War have all been written by Herodotus himself. So, many times the speeches would be written to express what Herodotus would have said. Another result of Herodotus having made up the speeches is that they would exalt Greece.
In Herodotuss accounts of the Persian War, he displayed his belief that the Greeks are the ultimate standard of excellence by discussing issues such as technology, strategy, motivation, government and he also addresses the different mindsets of the leaders in both the Persian and Greek armies. He describes both their ways of reasoning and their manner of coming to decisions.
Only once or twice does Herodotus use the issue of technology to prove the Greeks perfection. One of these times is during the Battle of Thermopylae.
“the two armies fighting in a narrow space, and the barbarians using shorter spears than the Greeks, and having no advantage from their numbers…”
Even though the Persians are much more wealthy than the Greeks, they are less advanced. The Greeks have longer spears and Herodotus uses this to show his belief that the Greeks are one step ahead of all the other armies and countries in the world.
Having longer spears benefits the Greeks in their use of strategy. During this battle, the readers get the impression that the Greeks tactics are far better than the Persians. Herodotuss words are:
“The Lacedaemonians fought in a way worthy of note, and showed
themselves far more skillful in fighting than their adversaries, often turning their backs and making as though they were all flying away, on which the barbarians would rush after them with much noise and shouting,
when the Spartans at their approach would wheel round and face their
pursuers, in this way destroying vast numbers of the enemy.”
The Persians assumed that the Greeks were retreating and charged after them. Too late did they find out that it was a trick. Before they knew it, the Greeks were turning around and stabbing them through the middle. The Greeks won this battle because of two factors: greater technology and greater strategy. Herodotus unmistakably demonstrated these two things to exalt his home country, Greece.
While the Battle of Thermopylae was taking place, another part of the Persian army was engulfed in a naval struggle with the Greeks. During The Battle of Artemisium, the hint was also given here that the Persians strategy was far inferior to that of the Greeks. Earlier on in the battle, the readers see that “Xerxes (army) injured itself by its own greatness, the vessels falling into disorder and oftimes running foul of one another…” The Persians, so full in number, were damaging their own ships and causing total chaos among themselves.
After these two battles were completed and the Persian army had regrouped, there was yet another sea encounter. This one was called the Battle of Salamis. Again, Herodotus stated the fact that the Persians strategy did not prove to be nearly as successful as the Greeks. Here is a quote that described the behavior of the Persians at this specific conflict:
For as the Greeks fought in order and kept their line, while the barbarians were in confusion and had no plan in anything that they did, the issue of the battle could scarce be other than it was.
Throughout Herodotuss descriptions of the separate battles that took place, he used the two issues of technology and strategy to prove Greeks advances. They had more technological advances and their strategy was far superior to the Persians. This factor was seen throughout Herodotuss descriptions of the fighting that were taking place.
The motivation for fighting or personal liberty in a sense is very closely related to the issues dealing with government. But when discussing the different motivations that were described by Herodotus, the reader must take into account that this account was written to an Athenian audience and not Persian. The Persians had a king and therefore those under Xerxes would have been fighting to please him. They were afraid of him, and Herodotus showed this fear and motivation quite often. The first example he gave of this is in Mardonius speech at the beginning of his logography. Throughout his advice to Xerxes, Mardonius said things such as, “Of a truth, master, you surpass not only all living Persians, but likewise those unborn,” or “Most true and right is each word that you have now uttered.” Also, during the Battle of Artemisium, Herodotus took his readers into the minds of the Persian captains after their first lost.
The third day was now come, and the captains of the barbarians, ashamed that so small a number of ships should harass their fleet, and afraid of the anger of Xerxes, instead of waiting for the others to begin the battle, weighed anchor themselves.
Also, at the Battle of Salamis, the motivation of the Persian army was revealed to the readers.
Yet the Persians fought far more bravely here than at Euboea, and indeed surpassed themselves each did his utmost through fear of Xerxes, for each thought that the kings eye was upon himself.
The Persian army was affected by Xerxes. At all times, they were worried that he has his eyes specifically focused on them and therefore they wished to fight their best so that they will not lose their life for a poor