PERIOD VII,

THE PERIOD OF GRECIAN GLORY,

EXTENDS FROM

THE BATTLE OF MARATHON,

490 YEARS B. C.

ΤΟ

THE BIRTH OF ALEXANDER,

356 YEARS B. C.

The length of this period is 134 years.

Emportant Events in Period VXX.

Six principal events are included in this period.

First, the Battle of Marathon :

Second, the Destruction of Leon'idas and his band at Thermop'ylæ :

Third, the Dictatorship of Cincinna'tus at Rome :

Fourth, the Retreat of 10,000 Greeks under Xen'ophon:

Fifth, the Taking of Rome by the Gauls:

Sixth, the War between The'bes and Spar'ta

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The sources of information in regard to events of this date, are most of them too authentic to be doubted. Some of the most eminent of the Greek historians then flourished, viz. Herod'otus, Thucyd'ides, and Xen'ophon.

1. The Battle of Marathon was fought between the Greeks and Persians, in which the latter were defeated with great slaughter. The Greeks were led on by Milti'ades, and the Persians fought under Dari'us their king. This event occurred 490 years B. C.

This war originated in the ambition of Darius, and his passion for revenge. After losing a large number of ships, he effected a landing of his troops in Eubœ'a, and poured down impetuously on At'tica. Milti'ades met them on the plain of Marathon, and slaughtered 6300 of the enemy, while his own loss was only 190

men.

For his heroic conduct Miltiades received from the Athenians, his countrymen, the basest ingratitude. He died of his wounds in prison, whither he had been thrust upon the imputation of treason, in an unsuccessful attack soon afterwards upon the Isle of Paros.

An incident in this war, mentioned by Justin the historian, may be related. Cynegy/rus, the brother of the poet Eschylus, having performed prodigies of valour, pursued the Persians to the shore, and laid hold of a ship, which was ready to sail, with his right hand.

Some of the enemy seeing this, cut it off, on which he seized it with his left; and being deprived of that also, he fastened his teeth in it, and thus expired.

2. The Destruction of Leonidas and his band at Thermop'yla, was an eminent instance of devoted patriotism. It took place in an engagement which they had with the Persians at that celebrated pass. Leon'idas and his 300 men resisted the whole Persian army, till they were

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overpowered and crushed by numbers. The date of this event is 480 years B. C.

Xerx'es, the son of Dari'us, in prosecution of his father's plans, had invaded Greece. It is estimated that his army consisted of 2,000,000 of fighting men, besides vast numbers of women and domestics-the largest army and assemblage of persons of which history gives an account.

To transport so vast a body of people, he employed 1200 ships of war, and 3000 ships of burden. Landing in Thes'saly, be proceeded by rapid marches to Thermop'ylæ, a narrow defile on the bay anciently called Maliacus.

Leonidas, king of Sparta, was chosen to oppose this immense force with only 6000 men. During two days the Persians strove in vain to force their way, and were repeatedly repulsed with great slaughter. Opposition however was fruitless, on account of the immense difference of numbers.

Foreseeing certain ruin, the Spartan king commanded all to retire but three hundred of his countrymen. His motive was to show the Persians what sort of people they had to encounter, and to acquire immortal fame. He and his brave men were all destroyed.

3. The Dictatorship of Cincinna'tus at Rome is dated 456 years B.C. He hastened to resign it at the expiration of sixteen days, having rescued a Roman army from destruction, defeated a powerful enemy, and rendered other signal services to his country.

After Rome had become a republic, the executive power was held by two consuls annually chosen from among the Patricians at first, and afterwards from among the Plebeians also, or the lower order of the people, when the government became altogether democratical. Besides these, there were other officers entrusted with great power, as the tribunes chosen from among the Plebeians, and, for a few years, the Decem/viri.

The office of a Dicta'tor was a temporary despotism, resorted to in times of imminent danger. The Dictator had absolute and unlimited authority, to provide for the public safety and defence, by enrolling all the citizens who were capable of bearing arms, and by putting to death any that should refuse obedience.

Cincinna'tus, previously to being called to the dictatorship, had been Consul; but retiring to his little farm in the neighbourhood of Rome, he hoped to enjoy, during the remainder of life, domestic and rural tranquillity. The public danger, however, upon the invasion of the Æqui and Volsci, required a person of his great talents to hold this high office.

He acquitted himself in it to the satisfaction of all parties, though the times were extremely turbulent. By extricating the army of one of the Consuls, which was hemmed in by the enemy, from its perilous situation, and by defeating the enemy, and taking their city, he probably saved Rome itself from destruction.

4. The Retreat of 10,000 Greeks under Xen'ophon, through an enemy's country 1600 miles in extent, was an instance of astonishing skill and success. It happened 401 years B. C. and is admirably described by Xenophon himself.

A younger brother of Artaxerx'es Mne'mon formed the project of dethroning him, and, with the aid of 13,000 Greeks, engaged him in battle near Babylon, but was defeated and slain.

The remainder of the Grecian army, amounting to 10,000 men, were obliged either to submit to the enemy, or to make good their retreat from Babylon to the banks of the Euxine. They chose the latter; and notwithstanding incredible hardships and dangers, they succeeded entirely.

Their loss was not more than 1500 men, from sick ness, hardships, casualties and battles, during the whole course. This retreat is reckoned the most celebrated in history, and, together with a beautiful account of it from Xenophon, has acquired for him and his countrymen signal honour.

But while the Greeks were so illustrious in war, the lustre of their character, particularly that of the Athenians, was greatly tarnished by their treatment of Socrates, their countryman, about this time, This

most eminent of heathen philosophers fell a victim to the resentment of the Athenians, on account of his teaching a purer and more rational religious worship, than that which prevailed among his countrymen.

5. The Taking of Rome by the Gauls, was effected under Bren'nus, their leader, 385 years B. C. Rome was laid waste and burnt by these barbarous invaders, who were, however, quickly expelled, and the city was rebuilt with wonderful rapidity.

The Gauls, a branch of the great nation of the Celtæ, had opened to themselves a passage through the Alps at four different periods, and were at this time established in the country between those mountains and the Apennines.

Commanded by Brennus, they laid siege to the Etrus'can Clu'sium, the people of which, who were destitute of a warlike character, besought the aid of the Romans. Brennus attacking the latter, pushed his successes as far as the gates of Rome, entered the city, and overthrew and burnt the whole of it except the capitol.

While he was engaged in the siege of that strong citadel, Camil'lus, the Dictator, had assembled a large army, with which he entered Rome, and furiously attacking the barbarians, he put them to flight, and banished them for ever from the city.

6. The War between Thebes and Sparta commenced about 371 years B. C. The other Grecian states were associated with Sparta; but Thebes, though alone, under Epaminon'das, maintained its ground, and triumphed in several engagements.

The glory which the Greeks acquired in the Persian war, rendered them vain and insolent, and, disagreeing