Battle of Orneae explained

Conflict:	Battle of Orneae
Date:	417 BC
Place:	Orneae, Argolis
Result:	Athenian/Argive Victory
Combatant1:	Orneae
Combatant2:	Argos Athens
Strength2:	1200 Hoplites 40 Triremes

The Battle of Orneae was an engagement that took place in the winter of 417 BC during the Peloponnesian War in the city of Orneae, between a Spartan garrison left in Orneae after the Battle of Hysiae and the forces of Argos and Athens.

Background and Battle

After the decisive defeat of Argos at Hysiae and the razing of the stronghold, the Spartan forces took the city of Orneae, fortified it, and settled the exiles from Argos in the city.^[1] The stronghold was left with a strong garrison that they then ordered to harass Argolis.^[2]

After the withdrawal of the Spartan army, the Athenians sent a force of 40 triremes and 1,200 hoplites to aid the city of Argos in expelling the garrison and taking the city.^[3]

The Argive/Athenian army then took Orneae by storm, both taking the city and being able to expel the garrison, and execute some of the exiles. The rest were driven out from the city of Orneae.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Siculus. Diodorus. History of the Peloponnesian War. they settled the exiles from Argos in Orneae; this place they fortified as a stronghold against Argolis.
2. Book: Siculus. Diodorus. History of the Peloponnesian War. and leaving in it a strong garrison, they ordered it to harass the Argives..
3. Book: Siculus. Diodorus. History of the Peloponnesian War. But when the Lacedaemonians had withdrawn from Argolis, the Athenians dispatched to the Argives a supporting force of forty triremes and twelve hundred hoplites..
4. Book: Siculus. Diodorus. History of the Peloponnesian War. The Argives then advanced against Orneae together with the Athenians and took the city by storm, and of the garrison and exiles some they put to death and others they expelled from Orneae..