ORIGINAL: Rune Iversen
The weak centre at Marathon was not part of an intentional ruse. I challange you to find me primary material supporting this notion.
I did not say it was an intentional ruse. I said it appeared to be of a purposeful design. Even if not intentional, the Greek generals were quick to capitalize on the situation and were flexible enough to to know exactly where to strike the enemy.
Herodotus:
"The Athenian generals were divided in their opinions, and some advised not to risk a battle, because they were too few to engage such a host as that of the Medes, while others were for fighting at once, and among these last was Miltiades. He therefore, seeing that opinions were thus divided, and that the less worthy counsel appeared likely to prevail, resolved to go to the Polemarch, and have a conference with him. For the man on whom the lot fell to be Polemarch at Athens was entitled to give his vote with the ten generals, since anciently the Athenians allowed him an equal right of voting with them."
[What do you think the Athenian generals were debating? A good general would not only debate about whether to do battle, but also about what tactics to use.]
"Then at length, when his own turn was come, the Athenian battle was set in array, and this was the order of it. Callimachus the Polemarch led the right wing, for it was at that time a rule with the Athenians to give the right wing to the Polemarch. After this followed the tribes, according as they were numbered, in an unbroken line; while last of all came the Plataeans, forming the left wing. And ever since that day it has been a custom with the Athenians, in the sacrifices and assemblies held each fifth year at Athens, for the Athenian herald to implore the blessing of the gods on the Plataeans conjointly with the Athenians. Now, as they marshalled the host upon the field of Marathon, in order that the Athenian front might he of equal length with the Median, the ranks of the centre were diminished, and it became the weakest part of the line, while the wings were both made strong with a depth of many ranks."
[Clearly, having the centre left weak was part of the OoB - it was purposely done. Herodotus did not include everything about the Battle of Marathon in his account. For example, he left out the fact that Themistocles was in command of the "weak centre"]
http://campus.northpark.edu/history/Cla ... athon.html
The greek centre didn´t rally at Marathon. Neither did they launch a fresh attack.
This is not true.
I quote Creasy:
"Aristides and Themistocles (who were in charge of the weak centre) re-newed the fight with their reorganized troops, and the full force of the Greeks were brought into close action with the Persian and Sacian divisions of the enemy (Creasy,
Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World, p.24)."
