Battle of Ephesus (498 BC)

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Battle of Ephesus
Part of the Ionian Revolt/Persian Wars
Date 498 BC Location Ionia Result Persian victory
Combatants
Ionia	Persia
Commanders
Eualcides †	Artaphernes

Greco-Persian Wars
1st Naxos – Ephesus – Sardis – Lade – 2nd Naxos – Eretria – Marathon – Thermopylae – Artemisium – Salamis – Potidea – Olynthus – Plataea – Mycale – Sestus – Byzantium – Eion – Doriskos – Eurymedon – Pampremis – Prosoptis – Salamis in Cyprus

The Battle of Ephesus (498 BC) was a battle in the Ionian Revolt. It saw the satrap Artaphernes defeating the forces of the Ionian rebels.

[edit] Background

The Ionian Greeks, subjected to the mighty Persian Empire at the time, had risen up against the Persians at the instigation of Aristagoras. After inciting the Ionians to rebellion, he had appealed to the Athenians for aid, which had sent 20 ships to assist in the rebellion. The ships, along with 5 from the city-state of Eretria and the Ionians, had sacked Sardis and burned it. During the sacking, the Persians had offered resistance, and the Ionians, Athenians and others had retreated to their ships.

[edit] Battle of Ephesus

After the destruction of Sardis, the Persians followed the retreating Greeks to Ephesus. The Greeks formed up to meet the attack, but the Persians were victorious. One of the Greek commanders, Eualcides, who was commanding the Eretrian forces, was killed.

[edit] Sources

Herodotus, The Histories, Book Five, chapter 102.