 |
| Statue of King Leonidas located in Sparta |
|
|
Purpose of the 2009 Leonidas Expedition
1. To complete our search and establish a "best case scenario" for the path
2. To complete our search of the location of the Phokian skirmish |
We argue that "a best case scenario" is probably the best solution that we may be able to provide given that topographically much has changed since 480 B.C. Ancient sources are incomplete and man and machine have transformed the region in unimaginable ways. For example, paths that are clearly visible in the British General Staff Map of 1943-44 simply no longer exist today. Segments of the northern slope of Kallidromos have been bull-dozed, trees have been cut down and four lane highways crisscross the mountain. Thus, a "best case scenario" for the true path, a scenario whose parameters demonstrate the best goodness of fit with our model (see below) is, we believe, the best we can hope for, for the beginning and first half of the path. However, unlike previous expeditions, we possess global positioning equipment, ground sensing equipment, aerial photos and we are also trying to obtain satellite imagery of the region. In addition, we have been greatly informed by the cumulative works from previous expeditions and our own on-site visitations in the summers of 2000, 2001 and 2002. |
The location of the Phokian skirmish is another matter. Herodotus tells us that the Persians fired thousands of arrows against the Phokians who were guarding the path. The tips of their arrows were made of bronze or iron. Since such arrowhead have already been found at the pass and at Marathon (from the 490 B.C. invasion), we believe that they may be retrievable on Mt. Kallidromos as well.
Our own research over Mt. Kallidromos, combined with the cumulative knowledge from previous expeditions and the work of Herodotus, have enabled us to develop a model which sites the Phokian skirmish in one of six possible locations. These are:
Nevropolis
The Crest
The Junction
The Trap
The Rock Gates
The Kastraki Junction
The Model
To establish a best case scenario for the path certain pieces of evidence need to align:
Physical descriptions of the terrain as given by Herodotus. These include a description of the beginning of the path, the existence of oak trees where the Phokian skirmish took place, and the fact that the way to the top of the mountains is longer than the way down. Herodotus also mentions that the Persians initially had the Mountains of the Oetaians to their right and those of the Trachians to their left (Hdt. VII, 217). Herodotus also notes that before commencing the ascent, the Persians crossed the Asopus and then marched all night until they arrived near the top of the mountain, some time before first light, probably around 5 am. |
Wallace (1980) in pressing for the Varthates approach makes the case that the march requires, first, a way around (periothos), and ascent (anavasis) and a descent (katavasis). Further, Wallace interprets periothos to mean " the way around the hills". However, this is not what the original Greek says. The word "hills" is an interpolation by Wallace. The existence of a periothos is based on one reference in Herodotus (Hdt, VII, 223) in which he states that the descent was shorter and faster than the way around (periothos) and the ascent. However, periothos could be taken to mean a way around any topographical feature of the path. Of course, if the Persians began their march from near present day Varthates of ancient Heraclia, as we believe is the case, they would have had to march around the rather prominent spur that juts out northwards from Mt. Kallidromos and past Anthili at coordinates 22:29:50E and 38:48:20N. This may well be the "periothos" that Herodotus refers to (Hdt, VII, 223) in describing the route taken by the Persians. However, in describing the beginning of the path itself Herodotus, says nothing about a way around. He simply states that it begins near the Asopus, it is called the Anopaia and it has the same name as the mountain. Which of the two descriptions is to be believed?
In attempting to resolve this issue we fall back on the rule of "multiple congruities" which, in this case, locates the beginning of the path near the Asopus where the river flows out of the gorge and past the ancient village of Anthili. Therefore, we interpret periothos to mean that the Persians had to take some kind of a detour from their encampment to the beginning of the path before commencing their ascent. Since we know that they had to cross the Asopus before reaching the beginning of the path, their encampment must have been west of the Asopus, probably between the Asopus Gorge and the Xerias River, somewhere near the region of modern day Varthates. We also believe that since the Immortals were King Xerxes' guard, their encampment would have been near their king. That was also a mark of honor. In addition, kings always encamped upriver in order to have access to clean, fresh water. This argument tends to invalidate the proposition that the Immortals were encamped east of the Asopus because that would place them down river and away from their king.
|
Objectives for the 2009 Leonidas Expedition
Given our discussion to date it appears that we can take the analysis no further until we have physical evidence in the form of arrowheads and/or spearheads from the Phokian Skirmish. In the summer of 2008, therefore, we propose to search for such evidence at six locations using various search instruments (e.g., ground penetrating radar, geomagnetic imaging, and the like). We intend to search at the following locations.
The Crest: 38:45:20N/ elev. 3690ft.
The Rock Gates: 38:46:08N/ elev. 3303 ft. (2 miles east/north east from the crest)
Nevropolis: 38:45:13N/ elev. 3040ft.
The Trap: 38:45:53N/ at 3160ft.
The Junction (Damasta Monastery approach and route down from the Crest) at 38:45:56N/ at 3400 ft.
The Kastraki Junction at coordinates 38:46:00N/
NOTE: Full coorinates of the above locations will be provided after the expedition begins
|
The discovery of arrowheads will enable us to eliminate rival hypotheses and will help strengthen the case for both the location of the Phokian skirmish and the direction of the true path. For example, if arrowheads are located at Nevropolis the approach D-East past the Damasta Monastery by way of the Trap and the Junction, as well as the Kastraki approach will be invalidated, which will strengthen the case for Elevtherochori as through-point to the Nevropolis. This will pit the northern slopes approach against the Varthates hypothesis. Such a process of elimination will help us considerably in devising a "best case scenario" for the path and we can then focus on which of the two approaches best aligns with the model discussed earlier. |
THE 2009 LEONIDAS EXPEDITION
Principal Investigators/Expedition Members
(Listed alphabetically) |
- Dr. Serge Besanger, Professor of Greek Philosophy, European School of Economics, FR
- Dr. Paul Cartledge, Professor of History, Cambridge University, UK
Author of 'Thermopylae' and 'The Spartans'
- Prof. Peter Green, Historian, University of Iowa, USA
Author of 'The Greco-Persian Wars'
- Dr. Ian Macgregor Morris, Historian, University of Nottingham, UK
Author of 'The Sword King: The Life and Legend of Leonidas of Thermopylae'
- Mr. Steven Pressifeld, Author, Honorary Member, USA
Author of 'Gates of Fire'
- Dr. Barry Strauss, Historian, Cornell University, USA
Author of 'The Battle of Salamis' and 'The Trojan War'
- Dr. Andrew Yiannakis, Social Scientist/Research Methodologist and Project Organizer, Clemson University, USA
|
- Dr. Stavros Douvis, Social Scientist, Ministry of Tourism and the University of Athens, GR
- Dr. John Douvis, Social Scientist, Ministry of Tourism and the University of Athens, GR
- Mr. John Trikeriotis, CPA, Business Manager, USA/AUS
- Mr. Kostas Dervenis, Project Manager, Intracom, GR
- Mr. Marco Cervera, State Licensed Archaeologist, MEX
- Mr. David Queen, Archaeologist, USA
- Mr. Mike Moumousis, VP Cox Communications, USA
- Mr. Robert Atwater, Explorers’ Club, USA
- Ms. Katerina Madourou, Site Organizer, GR
|
Sponsors
- Mr. Costas Giannakopoulos
Panathinaikos S.A. Basketball, Athens, (GR)
|
Individual Contributors
Mr. Allen Schwerer (USA) |
If you would like to sponsor and/or participate in the 2009 expedition, please contact Professor Yiannakis. |
|
|