Battle of Sepeia
[3] The closest thing to a contemporaneous source for the description of the battle is, as for many events in this time period, the Histories of Herodotus (written approximately fifty years later, c. 440 BC).
[4] This is evident through the Spartans' victory over Argos in the Battle of the 300 Champions (546 BC) [5] to gain control over the highly disputed territory of Thyrea.
However, the Argives sought revenge on Sparta, seizing back control of Thyrea approximately fifty years after the Battle of the 300 Champions.
[10] Ultimately, when the Battle of Sepeia began, the foretold predictions by the Oracle of Delphi, dictated the stratagems employed by the Spartans and the Argives respectively.
[12] The Battle of Sepeia resulted in approximately 6000 deaths, accounting for an estimated fifty per cent of the Argive population.
[9] Once the Oracle of Delphi had foretold the success of Sparta against Argos, Cleomenes led his armies to the Erasinos River on the border of the Argolid.
[6] Herodotus believes Cleomenes intended to camp his forces there, however when the king presented a sacrifice to the Erasinos River he received bad omens.
Consequently, Cleomenes made arrangements with the Aeginetans and Sicyonians, to transport the Spartan forces to the district of Tiryns and Nauplia (on the coast of the Argolid).
When the Argives visited the Oracle of Delphi, two predictions were told; the demise of Argos and that of the Milesians,[4] both of which are foretold to occur at the same time.
[10] Initially, Cleomenes led the Spartans to the Erasinos River, on the border of the Argolid,[6] before reporting that the omen’s were not favourable there to set up camp.
Interpretations of Cleomenes retreat, suggests the Argives had gained the higher ground on the opposite side of the stream.
[4] The Argive forces were caught off guard by the Agiad King’s repositioning;[10] rushing to set up camp in Sepeia at a close distance from the Lacedaemonians.
[8] Contrary to Herodotus’ account, Plutarch suggests the Spartan forces broke the truce on the third night and attacked the unsuspecting Argives.
[4] Whilst Pausanias records a loss of five thousand Argive men,[10] modern historians widely accept Herodotus’ higher figure.
[3] Due to the nature and ambiguity pertaining to historical sources and administration during the time period, an accurate estimation of the Argive population is improbable.
Additionally, this Battle holds profound political consequences,[3] provoking an upheaval of the Argive administrative system.
Due to the high number of casualties during the Battle of Sepeia, Argos lost a majority of their young and middle-aged men.
Ultimately, due to the high number of widowed women and shortage of noble Argive men, many doûloι married into political and administrative positions.
[12] The Battle of Sepeia essentially allowed for a political revolution, elevating the status of the doûloι, until Argive born noble men reached maturity.
