Class
Article
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
History Department
Faculty Mentor
Frances Titchener
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
In 490 BCE, a heavily outnumbered Greek force of mainly Athenians fought an invading Persian army at Marathon to preserve their freedom. According to Herodotus, the Hellenes charged at a run (δρόμος) across the plain, a distance of eight stades (.9 miles), to engage and subsequently repel the Persians. Herodotus continues on to claim that this was the first Greek charge. The reason for this was that the phalanx, the Greek military formation, required close ranks and heavy armor, so running was not easy. Modern historians have questioned Herodotus’ veracity as well as the actual plausibility of this event due to the weight of the ancient Greek panoply, the Greeks’ physical conditioning, and their style of combat. Recently, several researchers have reevaluated the composition and methods of creating hoplite armor which led to new ideas about its weight, allowing the charge to be revisited and Herodotus’ narrative to gain authority. Over the last year I have been training to test Herodotus' narrative while accounting for my increased size as compared to the average Greek male. In addition to physically preparing to test the charge myself, I have also been researching many of the peripheral factors that would have affected a hoplite's ability to complete such an event including their diet, normal exercise, and the terrain of the battlefield. My project combines all of this into an historically informed experiment whose purpose is to further illuminate not only this battle which is still shrouded in mystery, but also to discuss modern perception of ancient peoples. Presentation Time: Thursday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/83585410381?pwd=KzdEOVc1WEhjVC9ZalpXNXVPdCtqQT09
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Ὁ Δρόμος: Testing the Charge at Marathon, 490 BCE
Logan, UT
In 490 BCE, a heavily outnumbered Greek force of mainly Athenians fought an invading Persian army at Marathon to preserve their freedom. According to Herodotus, the Hellenes charged at a run (δρόμος) across the plain, a distance of eight stades (.9 miles), to engage and subsequently repel the Persians. Herodotus continues on to claim that this was the first Greek charge. The reason for this was that the phalanx, the Greek military formation, required close ranks and heavy armor, so running was not easy. Modern historians have questioned Herodotus’ veracity as well as the actual plausibility of this event due to the weight of the ancient Greek panoply, the Greeks’ physical conditioning, and their style of combat. Recently, several researchers have reevaluated the composition and methods of creating hoplite armor which led to new ideas about its weight, allowing the charge to be revisited and Herodotus’ narrative to gain authority. Over the last year I have been training to test Herodotus' narrative while accounting for my increased size as compared to the average Greek male. In addition to physically preparing to test the charge myself, I have also been researching many of the peripheral factors that would have affected a hoplite's ability to complete such an event including their diet, normal exercise, and the terrain of the battlefield. My project combines all of this into an historically informed experiment whose purpose is to further illuminate not only this battle which is still shrouded in mystery, but also to discuss modern perception of ancient peoples. Presentation Time: Thursday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/83585410381?pwd=KzdEOVc1WEhjVC9ZalpXNXVPdCtqQT09