Military History Matters 89

'- Lee and Jackson: a great military partnership
- Spartan Last Stand: Thermopylae, 480 BC
- Aircraft carriers at war: the Battle of the Coral Sea, 1942
- Carnage in the Crimea: Inkerman, 1854
- Shell shock cover-up at Passchendaele, 1917
- Interview: Mark Bowden on the Battle of Hué, 1968

Rob Selkirk
February 1, 2018

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Military History Matters 89

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Highlights:

Last stand: Thermopylae

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The Persian Army: ABOVE Central Asia was the home of the horse archer, and Xerxes’s army is likely to have included large contingents. Above right Archers were numerous in Persian armies, most of them fighting on foot without armour so much so that they became, for the Greeks, representative of the Persian enemy in general, as on this fine red figure vase painting. Right The Immortals were the elite shock infantry of Ancient Persian armies. This depiction is from a relief sculpture on the walls of the royal city of Persepolis. Far right Persian armies were strong in cavalry, including heavy shock cava lry, but these were of little value on such a constricted battlefield as Thermopylae.

Last stand: ThermopylaeContinuing his occasional series on legendary last stands, American military historian Fred Chiaventone recounts the Spartan defence of the Hot Gates in 480 BC.