This is the Persian outflanking force heading for the path. They were in position by dawn of day 3 and would surprise the Phocians. |
And here the Phocians finally see the Persians. |
Told by a runner that the Persians were coming most of the Greek army retreated leaving behind a rearguard consisting of the Spartans, Thespians and a few others, including some Thebans. |
Here the Spartans are holding off fresh Persians attacks while in the left rear you can see more Persians heading for the path. |
The Greeks/Spartans retreated to a hill as the Persian outflanking force approached - here, Persians are starting to stream through the pass to continue attacks on the Spartans. |
The main Greek army makes good it's escape. |
While Persians from the pass start to encircle the Greek rearguard... |
And the Greek army makes good it's escape... |
And the Phocians retreat to a hill of their own expecting to be attacked... |
But the Persians just fire a few arrows at them and continue towards the Spartans... |
Xerxes finally comes off his hill to watch the end. |
The Immortals and a load of others from the outflanking force have now joined the encirclement while the Phocians have decided it might be a good idea to leave. |
The Spartans and their friends are now completely surrounded. The Geeks had defended a wall in the pass and this hill is described as being behind the wall. |
As Xerxes arrives. |
Fun just to watch too, and SO much better without the obligatory love interest - if it were stop motion I think I'd even buy the CD.
ReplyDeletePlease don't give me ideas... if shielding continues for months, and months, and months... I might just finish up trying some of them... stop motion... then there's a few Amazons in the S&S Range...nononono...
DeleteA visual feast and I also feel I have learnt something today through your reenactment of the battle!
ReplyDeleteEducational is good... though can't pretend it's the most important aspect from my point of view:). I might do more 're-enactments' in future - for me, losing the nominal wargames element doesn't always lose a lot - at other times though the 'what if' aspect of doing it as a wargame and potentially changing history is also fun. It's getting the balance right.
DeleteGreat work Rob - you must have spent some time just moving the Persian Army around!
ReplyDeleteI think it took me about 3 hours all told. With no dice rolls or combats to determine it was quite quick and a lot of the army still hadn't moved by the end - though still moving a couple of hundred elements per turn by the end.
DeleteBy Zeus that's a lot of Persians.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful post, Rob, and very educational!
Thank you
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