East of Thyrea to Sicyon. In Thyrea, Cleomenes made another sacrifice to the sea to access the river via a different route. This time the omens appeared favourable. Consequently, Cleomenes made arrangements with the Aeginetans and Sicyonians, to transport the Spartan forces to the district of Tiryns and Nauplia (on the coast of the Argolid). The transportation route Cleomenes arranged was a challenging maritime task to fulfil, involving the transportation of the Spartan forces across the díolkos at Corinth. Dating the Battle Whilst Herodotus has been used as the primary source for the Battle of Sepeia, other historians have contested the date of this battle. Herodotus fails to explicitly date the battle, recording the event as part of the whole Spartan expedition against Argos. The only mentioning of a date occurs in his book Pausnias III, where Herodotus suggests the battle occurred at the beginning of the reign of Cleomenes I i.e. 520 BC. Modern historians have attempted to calculate a date for the battle based on other passages from Herodotus. When the Argives visited the Oracle of Delphi, two predictions were told; the demise of Argos and that of the Milesians, both of which are foretold to occur at the same time. The part of the prophecy concerning the Milesians was fulfilled at the end of the Ionian Revolt (494BC). Thus, the estimated date for the Battle of Sepeia is 494BC. Strategic and Tactical Deliberations The strategic and tactical deliberations of the Battle of Sepeia begin with Spartan’s march to Argos. Initially, Cleomenes led the Spartans to the Erasinos River, on the border of the Argolid, before reporting that the omen’s were not favourable there to set up camp. Interpretations of Cleomenes retreat, suggests the Argives had gained the higher ground on the opposite side of the stream. Cleomenes reconvened his army on the border of Tiryns. The Argive forces were caught off guard by the Agiad King’s repositioning; rushing to set up camp in Sepeia at a close distance from the Lacedaemonians. The Argives had lost their high ground advantage. The Battle Ultimately, Sparta won the Battle of Sepeia through deception. Reluctant to engage in battle, the Argives had been mimicking the Spartan Herald's call for meal time breaks. This ensured the Spartans did not attack the Argives when the hoplites were not prepared. When Cleomenes became aware of this strategy, he was able to weaponize this against