Delium
Delium, located in central Greece near the Euboean Strait, was a significant site during ancient conflicts, particularly noted for its sanctuary of Apollo. Founded by settlers from Tanagra, Delium is best remembered for the pivotal battle that took place during the Archidamian War (431–421 BCE), which was part of the larger Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The Athenians aimed to secure Delium as a permanent naval base to strengthen their foothold in Boeotia, a region allied with Sparta. In an attempt to conquer the area, Athenian forces, led by Hippocrates, fortified the location but faced a formidable challenge from the Boeotians, commanded by Pagondas.
Despite capturing Delium initially, the Athenian forces were ultimately outnumbered and suffered a significant defeat, with Hippocrates and nearly a thousand of his troops killed in the ensuing rout. The Boeotians set fire to Delium's defenses, leading to the capture or death of many Athenian garrison members. This battle exemplified the strategic and military complexities of the Peloponnesian War, highlighting the failures of Athenian attempts to dominate Boeotia and the struggles over control in Ancient Greece.
Delium
Delion (Dhilesi)
In Boeotia (central Greece), on the Euboean Strait; founded by settlers from Tanagra. The site of a sanctuary of Apollo (shrine of Delos, after which the place took its name), Delium was also the location of the most important battle of the Archidamian War (431–421), the first part of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta described by Thucydides. In a three-pronged endeavor to conquer Boeotia, of which the capital, Thebes, was one of Sparta's principal allies, the Athenians intended to fortify Delium as a permanent naval base on enemy territory. The Athenian Hippocrates captured the place without resistance, completing its fortification; but since the other forces comprising the triple invasion had failed to achieve their objectives, the Theban commander Pagondas caught up with his retreating army about a mile south of Delium. Each force had about 7,000 heavy infantry (hoplites), but the Athenians could not match the 10,000 Boeotian light troops, since their own had gone ahead. Hippocrates, nevertheless, turned to fight, and his right wing did well. But his left wing was rolled up and caused a general rout, in which he himself and nearly a thousand troops were killed. The Boeotians then used an enormous blow pipe to set the palisades of Delium on fire, and those members of the garrison who could not escape were captured or killed. The Athenian attempt to put Boeotia out of the war had totally failed.