Gorgopas (4th Century BC)
Encyclopedia
Gorgopas was a Spartan
commander during the Corinthian War
. In 388 BC Hierax
was dispatched by Sparta
to Aegina
to take over the Spartan fleet. The Spartans under the command of Teleutias
had earlier driven off the Athenian fleet blockading Aegina. Soon after taking over, Hierax departed for Rhodes
with most of the fleet leaving Gorgopas, his vice-admiral with twelve triremes as governor in Aegina, replacing Eteonicus
who held the post before. Gorgopas continued operations against the Athenian army led by Pamphilius who was still laying siege to the city. He ultimately forced Athens to send ships to evacute their land forces from the area. Gorgopas then went on to harass the Athenian territory from his base in Aegina.
Not long afterward, Gorgopas took his fleet to Ephesus
to escort Antalcidas
who was sent to replace Hierax as admiral. Upon completing his mission, on the way back to Aegina he encountered the Athenian fleet under Eunomus
. Gorgopas retreated and was able to make it back to the port in Aegina. After unsuccessfully trying to bait Gorgopas to come out and fight, the Athenias sailed away at night fall. The lead Athenian ship carried a customary light which the other ships could follow. Gorgopas, keeping his ships dark, followed the light of the Athenian ship. He was able to surprise the Athenian fleet as it passed close to shore around Cape Zoster. The Spartans captured four triremes and forced the rest of the Athenian ships to retreat to Piraeus
.
Gorgopas was killed in an ambush later that year. One Athenian unit under Chabrias
lay in ambush while another under Demaenetus
drew Gorgopas out of Aegina and into the trap by openly marching through the area.
Spartan Army
The Spartan army was the military force of Sparta, one of the leading city-states of ancient Greece. The army stood at the centre of the Spartan state, whose citizens' primary obligation was to be good soldiers. Subject to military drill from infancy, the Spartans were one of the most feared...
commander during the Corinthian War
Corinthian War
The Corinthian War was an ancient Greek conflict lasting from 395 BC until 387 BC, pitting Sparta against a coalition of four allied states; Thebes, Athens, Corinth, and Argos; which were initially backed by Persia. The immediate cause of the war was a local conflict in northwest Greece in which...
. In 388 BC Hierax
Hierax (Spartan Admiral)
Hierax was a Spartan admiral during the Corinthian War. In 389 BC he was dispatched by Sparta to Aegina, to take over the Spartan fleet. The Spartans under the command of Teleutias had earlier driven off the Athenian fleet blockading Aegina...
was dispatched by Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
to Aegina
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
to take over the Spartan fleet. The Spartans under the command of Teleutias
Teleutias
Teleutias was the brother of the Spartan king Agesilaus II, and a Spartan naval commander in the Corinthian War. He first saw action in the campaign to regain control of the Corinthian Gulf after the Spartan naval disaster at Cnidus in 394 BC, and was later active in the Spartan campaign against...
had earlier driven off the Athenian fleet blockading Aegina. Soon after taking over, Hierax departed for Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
with most of the fleet leaving Gorgopas, his vice-admiral with twelve triremes as governor in Aegina, replacing Eteonicus
Eteonicus
Eteonicus was a Spartan commander during the Peloponesian and Corinthian Wars. He participated in many key engagements, held important commands and is mentioned multiple times by Thucydides, Xenophon & Diodorus...
who held the post before. Gorgopas continued operations against the Athenian army led by Pamphilius who was still laying siege to the city. He ultimately forced Athens to send ships to evacute their land forces from the area. Gorgopas then went on to harass the Athenian territory from his base in Aegina.
Not long afterward, Gorgopas took his fleet to Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
to escort Antalcidas
Antalcidas
Antalcidas was a Spartan soldier and diplomat, the son of Leon.In 393 BC he was sent to Tiribazus, Persian satrap of Sardis, to undermine the friendly relations then existing between Athens and Persia, offering to recognize Persian claims to the whole of Asia Minor and supremacy over Greek cities...
who was sent to replace Hierax as admiral. Upon completing his mission, on the way back to Aegina he encountered the Athenian fleet under Eunomus
Eunomus (Admiral)
Eunomus was an Athenian admiral during the Corinthian War. In 389 BC he was put in charge of a fleet of 13 triremes to check the operation of the Spartan commander Gorgopas operating out of Aegina....
. Gorgopas retreated and was able to make it back to the port in Aegina. After unsuccessfully trying to bait Gorgopas to come out and fight, the Athenias sailed away at night fall. The lead Athenian ship carried a customary light which the other ships could follow. Gorgopas, keeping his ships dark, followed the light of the Athenian ship. He was able to surprise the Athenian fleet as it passed close to shore around Cape Zoster. The Spartans captured four triremes and forced the rest of the Athenian ships to retreat to Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
.
Gorgopas was killed in an ambush later that year. One Athenian unit under Chabrias
Chabrias
Chabrias was a celebrated Athenian general of the 4th century BC. In 388 BC he defeated the Spartans and Aeginetans under Gorgopas at Aegina and commanded the fleet sent to assist Evagoras, king of Cyprus, against the Persians. In 378, when Athens entered into an alliance with Thebes against...
lay in ambush while another under Demaenetus
Demaenetus
Demaenetus was an Athenian commander during the Corinthian War. In 389 BC he was one of the commanders in an engagement close to Aegina that resulted in a Spartan defeat and the death of the Spartan commander Gorgopas. One Athenian unit under Chabrias prepared an ambush while another under...
drew Gorgopas out of Aegina and into the trap by openly marching through the area.