of Sparta, ensuring the Spartans didn’t attack the Argives when not prepared for battle. When Cleomenes became aware that the Argive’s were paying close attention to the Herald’s orders, he instructed his forces to ignore the next mealtime call and attack at this call instead. When the Herald made his call for a mealtime break, the Spartans attacked an unsuspecting Argive force. Many Argives were slaughtered, with the surviving hoplites seeking refuge in a nearby grove named ‘The Sacred Grove of Apollo’. Cleomenes, unwilling to leave any Argive survivors, devised a strategy to trick the hoplites into leaving the Grove’s religious and physical protection Cleomenes deceived the Argive men into believing that a ransom had been granted and paid – allowing for their release. However, when an Argive man tried to walk free, they were executed. When the Argive’s realised what was occurring, they stopped responding to the ransom calls. Consequently, Cleomenes set the grove on fire forcing the remaining hoplites out of the grove’s protection. The Battle of Sepeia resulted in approximately 6000 deaths, accounting for an estimated fifty per cent of the Argive population. The significance of this Battle is illustrated through the revolution of the Argive political system. The doûloι experienced an elevated social status, due to the loss of noble Argive men Furthermore, Herodotus associates Argos’ defeat with a victory of glory for the city’s women. This is represented through the actions of a woman named Telesilla, whom organised the city’s defence during the aftermath. Prelude The fertile plain of Thyrea was a long-disputed territory that lay between the two city states of Sparta and Argos. During the Battle of the 300 Champions (546 BC) Sparta gained control over this region. Nearly two generations had since passed when Argos reclaimed Thyrea. The events that occurred after this held significant religious undertones. Once the Oracle of Delphi had foretold the success of Sparta against Argos, Cleomenes led his armies to the Erasinos River on the border of the Argolid. Herodotus believes Cleomenes intended to camp his forces there, however when the king presented a sacrifice to the Erasinos River he received bad omens. Rather uncharacteristically, Cleomenes obeyed the signs of the River God proclaiming: “I admire the God of the River for refusing to betray his countrymen. But the Argives will not get away that easily” and left. Cleomenes then retreated South and marched his Spartan forces