Callimachus (polemarch)
Encyclopedia
Callimachus was polemarch
in Athens
in 490 BC
, and was one of the commanders at the Battle of Marathon
.
As polemarch, Callimachus had a vote in military affairs along with the 10 strategoi
, the generals, such as Miltiades
. Miltiades convinced Callimachus to vote in favour of a battle when the strategoi were split evenly on the matter.
At Marathon, Callimachus commanded the right wing of the Athenian army. The right and left wings (the left wing commanded by the Plataea
ns) surrounded the Persians after a seemingly suicidal charge by the center line. Although the Greeks
were victorious, Callimachus was killed during the fighting. His arm was allegedly hacked off by an axe; he presumably died from this injury.
Polemarch
A polemarch was a senior military title in various ancient Greek city states . The title is composed out of the polemos and archon and translates as "warleader" or "warlord", one of the nine archontes appointed annually in Athens...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 490 BC
490 BC
Year 490 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Camerinus and Flavus...
, and was one of the commanders at the Battle of Marathon
Battle of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. It was the culmination of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to subjugate...
.
As polemarch, Callimachus had a vote in military affairs along with the 10 strategoi
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
, the generals, such as Miltiades
Miltiades
Miltiades or Miltiadis is a Greek name. Several historic persons have been called Miltiades .* Miltiades the Elder wealthy Athenian, and step-uncle of Miltiades the Younger...
. Miltiades convinced Callimachus to vote in favour of a battle when the strategoi were split evenly on the matter.
At Marathon, Callimachus commanded the right wing of the Athenian army. The right and left wings (the left wing commanded by the Plataea
Plataea
Plataea or Plataeae was an ancient city, located in Greece in southeastern Boeotia, south of Thebes. It was the location of the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC, in which an alliance of Greek city-states defeated the Persians....
ns) surrounded the Persians after a seemingly suicidal charge by the center line. Although the Greeks
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
were victorious, Callimachus was killed during the fighting. His arm was allegedly hacked off by an axe; he presumably died from this injury.