Hi
He participated in the Battle of Potidaea, where he saved Alcibiades’s life.
The Battle of Potidaea was fought in 432 BC between Athens and a combined army from Corinth and Potidaea, along with their various allies. Along with the Battle of Sybota, it was one of the catalysts for the Peloponnesian War.
Potidaea was a colony of Corinth on the Chalcidice peninsula, but was a member of the Delian League and paid tribute to Athens. It was originally settled by Corinthians and still hosted Corinthian magistrates every year. After the Athenian defeat at Sybota, Athens demanded...
He was also at the Battle of Delium.
17,000 total
18,500 total
The Battle of Delium (or Delion, a city in Boeotia) took place in 424 BC, during the Peloponnesian War. It was fought between the Athenians and the Boeotians, who were allies of the Spartans, and ended with the siege of Delium in the following weeks.
In 424 BC, the Athenian generals Demosthenes and Hippocrates planned to invade Boeotia. Demosthenes mistakenly sailed too early and landed at Siphae, where his plans were betrayed by a Phocian named Nicomachus. As Hippocr...
In both battles he appears to have been a foot soldier.
The Greek armies of that period used hoplite phalanx formations. Pretty much everyone was a foot soldier.
At Potidaea Athen fielded around 3000 hoplites, yes, but also around 400 cavalry and 70 ships (triremes) as well as an officer corps and the assorted support organization.
Even if he was a foot soldier, he wasn’t necessarily a hoplite himself. Every hoplite was also usually accompanied by an attendant who functioned as a squire, but also fought as skirmishers. They were usually lightly armored and armed with javelins, but also frequently bows, spears or slings. (IIRC the Peltasts morphed from this group.)
He was in logistics, his job was to deliver supplies to the soldiers. He’d transport it in big wooden boxes, crates actually, on a wagon. Every time he approached the base camp, the sentry would search the wagon to make sure no contraband was being smuggled. He’d give a brief look at the cargo, and say:
“So…
Gukumatz:
At Potidaea Athen fielded around 3000 hoplites, yes, but also around 400 cavalry and 70 ships (triremes) as well as an officer corps and the assorted support organization.
Even if he was a foot soldier, he wasn’t necessarily a hoplite himself. Every hoplite was also usually accompanied by an attendant who functioned as a squire, but also fought as skirmishers. They were usually lightly armored and armed with javelins, but also frequently bows, spears or slings. (IIRC the Peltasts morphed from this group.)
Would attendants have been drawn from the voting citizens though? Although Socrates was not wealthy he was a skilled tradesman and a voting politically-participating citizen, which seems closer to the hoplite class
Plato mentions Socrates military career several times in the dialogues :
In the monologue of the Apology, Socrates states he was active for Athens in the battles of Amphipolis, Delium, and Potidaea. In the Symposium, Alcibiades describes Socrates’ valour in the battles of Potidaea and Delium, recounting how Socrates saved his life in the former battle (219e–221b). Socrates’ exceptional service at Delium is also mentioned in the Laches by the General after whom the dialogue is named (181b). In the Apology, Socrates compares his military service to his courtroom troubles, and says anyone on the jury who thinks he ought to retreat from philosophy must also think soldiers should retreat when it seems likely that they will be killed in battle.
Thank you all. Very helpful
Exapno_Mapcase:
He hated KP.
And it was always annoying when he got a three day liberty and then spend the whole three days asking people what liberty really meant.
JeffB
April 17, 2018, 4:47pm
11
He was in logistics, his job was to deliver supplies to the soldiers. He’d transport it in big wooden boxes, crates actually, on a wagon. Every time he approached the base camp, the sentry would search the wagon to make sure no contraband was being smuggled. He’d give a brief look at the cargo, and say:
“So…
At least he made it to the camp. When Zeno was delivering, he never quite reach the camp.
That is the first smart ass answer to a thread that I have found to be funny.