8/12/2019 The Battle of Nemea 394 B

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The Battle of Nemea 394 B.C.Nemea is a battle for those who like lots of hoplites. It was the largest battle of the Corinthian War.

Xenephon’s Hellenica provides a description of the forces involved and the battle. 

On the allied side were 6000 Athenian hoplites, 7000 Argive hoplites, 5000 Boeotian hoplites, 3000

Corinthian hoplites, and 3000 hoplites from Euboea. In addition to the hoplites there were 800

Boeotian horse, 600 Athenian horse, 100 Chalcidian horse, and 50 Opuntian Lorican horse.

Aristodemus

Lacedaemonians about six thousand, of the Eleans,1 Triphylians, Acrorians, and Lasionians almost three

thousand, and of the Sicyonians one thousand five hundred, while of the Epidaurians, Troezenians, Hermionians,

and Halians there were not less than three thousand. Besides these there were horsemen of the

Lacedaemonians to the number of about seven hundred, Cretan bowmen who accompanied the army, about

three hundred, and, further, slingers of the Marganians, Letrinians, and Amphidolians, not less than four

hundred

Athenians about six thousand hoplites, of the Argives, according to all accounts, about seven thousand, of the

Boeotians (since the Orchomenians were not present) only about five thousand, of the Corinthians about three

thousand, and, further, from the whole of Euboea not less than three thousand. This was the number of the

hoplites; but as for horsemen, there were of the Boeotians (since the Orchomenians were not present) about

eight hundred, of the Athenians about six hundred, of the Chalcidians from Euboea about one hundred, and of

the Opuntian Locrians about fifty.

six tribes of the Athenians found themselves opposite the Lacedaemonians, the other four being opposite the

Tegeans. Pellene, who, being pitted against the Thespians, but the Lacedaemonians did come upon the Argives

as they were returning from the pursuit, and when the first polemarch was about to attack them in front, it is

said that some one shouted out to let their front ranks pass by. When this had been done, they struck them on

their unprotected sides1 as they ran past, and killed many of them. The Lacedaemonians also attacked the

Corinthians as they were returning. And, furthermore, they likewise came upon some of the Thebans returning

from the pursuit, and killed a large number of them

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Thebans

Corinth Euobea Argives Athenians

Allies Spartans

Formation Attack Defense Move Range Morale Notes Number

Aristodemus X X 8 X X X 1

Other Spartan Generals X X 8 X X X 4

Allied Generals X X 8 X X X 5

Spartans 5 6 6 X 11 Drillerd 16

Spartan Allies 4 6 6 X 9 Undrilled 32

Other Hoplites 4 6 6 X 10 Undrilled 48

Spartan Cavalry 2 5 12 X 9 Undrilled 1

Archers 2 4 6/8 6 11 Undrilled 1

Slingers 2 4 6/8 4 10 Undrilled 1

Spartan Light Infantry 3 4 6/8 2 9 Undrilled 2

Allied Cavalry 2 5 12 X 9 Undrilled 3

Allied Light Infantry 3 4 6/8 2 9 Undrilled 2

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