Herodotus Portrays Xerxes and the Persians as weak because they are confused about Spartan’s idea of warfare as well as the fact that he only wins the battle by the help of others.
The first time Herodotus proves that Xerxes is confused was when he sent a spy in theory to spy on the Spartans and report back to him. The sy told Xerxes what he had saw and Xerxes response was so, “But Xerxes found his words unbelievable, and once again he asked how so small a force could fight against his army”(Herodotus 8). This example explains how Xerxes is confused about how the Greeks will fight his army that is much larger. This property Xerxes as a weak leader because a leader should not be confused. They should be able to compensate any difference or setbacks that confront them. Herodotus …show more content…
Herodotus in the text even make it clear that Xerxes know understand he has the weaker army. As the Spartans and Persians continued to fight in many assaults, Herodotus describes Xerxes reactions as, “Xerxes, who was watching the battle is said to have leapt from his seat three times in fear for his army.” it is clear that Xerxes does not have a lot of fate in his army because three time durring to battle he is startled in fear that his arm might lose. A strong leader should always have faith in their army no matter what, and in reference to to Xerxes reaction he is not a strong leader. After many small battle on the terrain of Thermopylae Xerexs was still not able to succeed as a victor, Herodotus then describes an important reason why Xerex was able to win the battle, he says“...Ephialtes a man from Malis was admitted to his presence in hope of receiving a rich reward from the king, he told him of the path that led over the mountains to thermopylae and by so doing he brought destruction on the Greeks, who were holding the pass”(Herodotus 7). This description explains the reason why Xerex was so