The Struggle Of The Persian Army Case Study

THE STRUGGLE OF THE CYPRIOTS AGAINST PERSIAN RULE
IN ANTIQUITY

INTRODUCTION:
In 650 B.C Cyprus was left free from the Assyrians. The following years was a time of great prosper for Cypriots. The time of freedom for Cyprus though was interrupted by the Egyptian conquer in 569 B.C. Egyptian rule though was not depressing at all so the Cypriot civilization continued to grow. In 564 B.C the great king of Persians , Cyrus, conquered East Asia so the plans for rule of Cyprus were inevitable. Cypriot kings recognised the rule so they managed to keep their autonomy. In the beginning of the 5th century B.C two political preferences, the friendly-Persian one and the anti-Persian. King of Salamina Gorgos was a representer of the friendly-persian but
Besides giving the option to Ionians to choose their opponent showed unlimited trust to them, because by this gesture trusted the luck of their own cities and kingdoms in the hands of the Ionians if they would choose the mainland. It is strange that Herodotos doesn’t mention the Cypriot navy as it was known that Cyprus had powerful navy force as they showed some years later (480 BC) empowering Xerxes with approximately 150 ships against the Greeks.
The decisive collision happened in the valley of Salamina where the Persian army gathered with their leader Artyvius. The description of the battle is being given again by Herodotos( History, E 110-113).
The most skilful and better trained Cypriot forces were of those of Salamina and Soloi. These forces lined up in the centre opposite the special forces of Persian. Right and left were the army of the rest Cypriot cities. In the middle of the Persian army was the Persian general Artyvios. Onesilos chose to face Artyvios voluntarily as Herodotus
One of them were the Cypriots that they been forced to march alongside Persians.
Diodoros Sikieliotis(Historical Bookcase, 11.2,1) reports that Xerxes ordered every city that was enslaved by him to make fighting ships. Such cities were the Cypriot, Egyptian, Phoenician, Cicilian, Lycian, Mysian, Karian. Egyptians gave 200 ships, Phoenician gave 300 ships, Cypriots gave 150 ,Cicilian 80. Cypriots not only made the ships but also they were obliged to run them as well so they send an army as well. Some of the Cypriot leaders that participated were Gorgos of Salamina, brother of Onesilos, alongside with his brother Philaon, King of Amathounta Timonax, general Penthylos from the kingdom of Paphos.
The first serious battleship happened near Artemision. Cypriot ships participated in this battleship. Cypriot general Penthylos of Paphos lost 11 out of his 12 ships in a storm except the one that was on it a little before the battleship of Artemision. So he went into the battleship with one ship that in the end was captured by the Greeks. Herodotus(History, Z’195, 1) reports that Penthylos was interrogated by the Greeks for information about Persian army and then he was sent iron binded to