We're the Spartans and we ain't had our dinner* - Sepeia 494BC

 

This battle took place near the city of Argos.  The locals (Argives) were being menaced by an invading Spartan army.  The Argive generals wanted to be forewarned of any Spartan attack, so they instructed their herald to listen to orders issued by the Spartan herald and then to repeat them to the Argive camp. Cleomenes realized what was happening and ordered his army to ignore the next meal call and charge the enemy instead.  What a rotter!  Martin and Kayte led the Argives while enjoying a more Spartan regime were John and Mark.

The armies - all old 25mm toys from my collection.

In the Argive city of Argos, a female poet named Fetesilla rallied the women and children to defend the walls.

Both armies were built around Hoplite phalanxes.

The Spartans soon steamed in and the blood began to flow.

Clemones's own unit of hoplites soon died to a man - 

leaving him to run off to make a nuisance of himself elsewhere.

For a time the battle hung in the balance...

...leading to much careful deliberation over card choice.  

Here is Cleomones and his lackey plotting victory!

Meanwhile the Argives were still confident.

Suddenly the Argive line crumbled!

The spot where victory was clinched.

In the Argive camp the excuses begin...

As the game had gone so quickly (about 45 minutes!) we set it up again and the players changed sides...

* Oh go on then:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OYbhVHZMco