Pausanias Analysis

In the fifth year of Aristodemus's reign, as both sides were about to engage in a decisive confrontation due to a prophecy—for they had grown weary because of the war’s duration and its costs—the allies on each side assembled accordingly. To the Lacedaemonians came only the Corinthians from among the Peloponnesians, while to the Messenians came the Arcadians in full force and select troops from the Argives and Sicyonians. The Lacedaemonians therefore entrusted the center of their formation to the Corinthians, the helots, and those of the perioikoi who marched with them, while they themselves and their kings drew up on the wings, arranging their phalanx more deeply and densely than ever before.

The arrangements Aristodemus made for himself and his followers regarding the coming battle were thus: Those Arcadians and Messenians who were physically strong and courageous, but whose equipment was not effective, he selected for them the most useful arms available; and since the urgency of the task was pressing, he stationed these men together with the Argives and Sicyonians. He further extended the phalanx to avoid encirclement by the enemy. He also took precaution to position them so that Mount Ithome would lie at their backs. Over these troops he appointed Cleonnis as their commander.

Damis himself and his men stood firm, supported by their lightly armed troops, among whom there were very few slingers or archers; the great majority were fit physically for swift charges and withdrawals, lightly equipped. Not every one of them possessed a breastplate or shield, and those who were lacking these protective arms wrapped themselves in the fleeces of goats and sheep; some even wore the skins of wild animals, especially the mountain-dwelling Arcadians, who favored wolves' and bears' skins.

Each carried many javelins, and some bore spears also. These men lay in ambush on Ithome, where they would least likely be spotted. Meanwhile, the Messenian hoplites and their allies met the first charge of the Lacedaemonians, and thereafter too showed notable bravery. Certainly they were inferior in numbers to their opponents, yet being chosen men, they fought against the common soldiers and not equally against their betters, which accounted largely for how long they resisted, aided further by their zeal and experience.

Here too stood the Messenian light-armed troops, from whom the signals were now raised; these dashed forward at the Lacedaemonians, surrounded them at a run, and hurled javelins against their flanks. Those who had greater daring rushed closer and struck them hand-to-hand. The Lacedaemonians, seeing themselves thus confronted by an unexpected danger, now for a second time in the same place, nevertheless remained undisturbed and turned back against the skirmishers, attempting defence. Yet, as the enemy easily avoided them owing to their agility, the Spartans fell into confusion and consequently grew angry.

There is by nature, it seems, a certain tendency among humans to feel especially unrestrained toward anything they regard as undeserved. And indeed, at that time, those of the Spartans who had already received wounds and those who stood in ranks where comrades had fallen were foremost in rushing forward against the attacks of the light-armed troops, whenever they saw them approaching; and carried away by passion, they pursued them far too eagerly when they retreated. At first, the Messenian skirmishers began by striking and hurling missiles at the Spartans standing their ground; then, fleeing swiftly, they repeatedly evaded pursuit and, if their pursuers attempted to turn back, attacked again.

These deeds they carried out scatteredly, each group acting differently from the arrangement of their opponents. The hoplites of the Messenians and their allies, emboldened by such circumstances, pressed harder upon those arrayed opposite them. Finally, the Lacedaemonians, overcome by exhaustion and their wounds, and at the same time unusually disturbed by the assaults of the light-armed troops, broke their ranks. After they had turned to flight, the light-armed soldiers inflicted even greater harm upon them.

As for how many Lacedaemonians fell in the battle, it was impossible to ascertain their number exactly, though I myself am persuaded that they were numerous. The return journey home was peaceful for most, but it was destined to be difficult for the Corinthians; for their route passed through hostile territory, as they attempted alike to reach safety both through the Argive land and by way of Sicyon.