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For his armed forces Cleon
selected:
- Lemnians and Imbrians. These
islanders were staunch allies of Athens from the
beginning of the war. They serve with Cleon at
Amphipolis, and they volunteer for service in the
Sicilian expedition (7.57.2).
- Thracian peltasts. Peltasts were
so named from their armor, small shields
(pe/ltai)
of a wood or wicker frame covered with animal skin, which
were Thracian in origin. The peltast was otherwise armed
similarly to the light-armed warrior, and was positioned
in the battle-line between the
o(pli=tai
and the yiloi/.
The one on the right is attired in generically
"barbarian" costume.
- Archers, perhaps Scythian
warriors.
- Light-armed troops
(oi9
yiloi/). These were not
encumbered by the hoplite's heavy body armor. Their
characteristic attire was the petasos, a broad-brimmed
hat, and a cloak. Their arms were the javelin, a short
sword, and stones. The one here is shown with "heroic
nudity."
For his partner in command Cleon
chose:
- Demosthenes, from among the
generals who were at Pylos.
- Thucydides explains that
Demosthenes had been wary of an assault even with forces
vastly superior in numbers: "He might land a large force
and yet suffer losses from an attack from an unseen
position."
- These reflections were occasioned
by Demosthenes' recent defeat in Aetolia, where many of
his soldiers lost their ways in the
woods.
- In the meantime, however, one of
the Athenian soldiers had accidentally set the island's
woods on fire while preparing his supper, and much of the
trees and brush had burned.
- Thus, Demosthenes is more
confident of success. In addition, thanks to Cleon, the
Athenian forces are well reinforced with light-armed
soldiers of the kind that had been partly responsible for
Demosthenes' success in Amphilochia.
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