The Battle
Hearing of the Greek's approach, the Persians in Samos decide to face them on land. They sailed to the nearly peninsula of Mycale just to the east of the city, and formed a wall out of a number of their ships, dragging the rest onto the beach. When the Greek fleet arrived and found Samos empty, they started a pursuit thinking the Persans were running from battle. The Greeks soon came upon the Persians, already formed up in battle lines on shore. Leotychides yelled to the Ionians in the persian camp:
- "Men of Ionia - ye who can hear me speak - do ye take heed to what I say; for the Persians will not understand a word that I utter. When we join battle with them, before aught else, remember Freedom - and next, recollect our watchword, which is Hebe. If there be any who hear me not, let those who hear report my words to the others." (Herod. 9.98)
Realizing generally what was going on, the Persians disarmed the Samians and sent their ememies, the Milesians, to guard the roads to the rear. Meanwhile the Greeks unloaded their ships and formed up for combat. As usual the Spartans occupied the right wing, placing the Athenians on the left. The Athenians, walking along the beach, found a herald's scepter and thought that it is a divine sign, signifying that the other Greeks had been victorious on the mainland. They then charged forward to the attack alone, and after a short battle the Persians, led by Artantes, were forced to retreat to the fort they had constructed further inland. The Athenians chased them and captured the fort as well. The Persian survivors fled, only to find that the Milesian rear-guard had turned against them as well, and few survived to eventually reach Sardis.
When the Spartans arrived the Persian camp was looted and their beached ships destroyed. Returning to Samos they then discussed their next moves. The Spartans proposed the evacuate the cities of the Ionian Greeks and bring the population to the Greek mainland, as they did not consider it worth their trouble to defend the Ionians everytime they were attacked. The Athenians, however, objected to losing their colonies, and accepted the Ionian Greeks in a league against Persia.
Some notes:
Psiloi were either Peltasts, or Archers, or Slingers or Hamippoi.
Peltasts were carrying a light, usually wicker shield in the shape of a half moon called "Pelte". They were javelin throwers.
Archers carried a similar kind of shield. Sometimes no shield at all.
Slingers would throw rocks or lead balls. Usually no shield.
Hamippoi were light infantry that fought along with cavalry. Similar arms as the Peltasts.
All of the above carried swords as part of their equipment.
In the triremes there were standard 10 Hoplites as marines plus a few officers. There could be some more if the marine crew was unexperienced in sea battled and they wanted to "beef up" their defence. I'm not aware of oarsmen throwing spears! Perhaps if the two ships would be entangled and immobilized they would also help (they were free citizens not slaves).
Edited by Yiannis