Pausanias, son of Cleombrotus and member of Sparta’s Agiad dynasty, is remembered as the regent who led the Greeks to victory at Plataea in 479 BC. His career is a mixture of triumph and scandal. One moment he was hailed as saviour of Greece, the next accused of arrogance and treachery. His end, starved inside a temple at Sparta, is as grim as any Greek tragedy.
Timeline
- 480 BC: Becomes regent for Pleistarchus after Leonidas falls at Thermopylae.
- 479 BC: Commands allied forces at Plataea, defeating Mardonius and securing Greek independence.
- 478 BC: Leads campaigns in Cyprus and Byzantium, where his behaviour alienates allies.
- Later 470s BC: Recalled to Sparta, accused of plotting with Persia, and dies in the sanctuary of Athena Chalkioikos.
Arms and Armour
Pausanias’ personal equipment has not survived, but as a Spartan hoplite of the early fifth century, his kit would have been recognisable to any phalanx veteran.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Shield | Large aspis of wood and bronze, about 90 cm across. |
| Spear | Dory thrusting spear, roughly 2.7 m long, with rear spike (sauroter). |
| Sword | Short iron xiphos, a brutal back-up weapon once spears snapped in the melee. |
| Armour | Bronze cuirass or linothorax (linen armour), greaves, and a Corinthian helmet. |
This was not kit for flair. It was built for one purpose: hold the line until the enemy blinked.
Battles and Military Acumen
Plataea (479 BC)
Pausanias’ greatest success. He chose ground that neutralised Persian cavalry, held his nerve when his coalition fractured in a night movement, and then crushed Mardonius’ elite infantry. He even prevented mutilation of Mardonius’ corpse, showing an eye for propaganda as well as strategy.
Byzantium (478 BC)
Victory turned sour. He adopted Persian habits, offended allies, and was accused of scheming with the enemy. Athens used his failure to push Sparta aside and step into leadership of the new maritime league.
Assessment
On the battlefield, Pausanias had iron control. In politics, he was a disaster. He won Greece’s freedom and then squandered Sparta’s influence almost immediately.
Character and Leadership Style
- Cool under pressure: Plataea proved his ability to stay steady in chaos.
- Hopeless with allies: His arrogance in Byzantium lost Sparta the goodwill of other Greek states.
- Overreaching ambition: Tried to take sole credit for victory on the Serpent Column, only to have the inscription removed by his own people.
Sparta tolerated stern commanders, but not would-be tyrants with Persian friends.
Where to See the Legacy
- Serpent Column, Istanbul and Delphi
Originally set up at Delphi to commemorate Plataea, later moved to Constantinople. One serpent head survives in Istanbul, with a cast now at Delphi. - Sanctuary of Athena Chalkioikos, Sparta
The “Brazen House” where Pausanias died. Remains and inscriptions are housed in the Spartan Archaeological Museum. - Bust in Capitoline Museums, Rome
A portrait long identified as Pausanias, though attribution is debated.
Latest Archaeology and Scholarship
- Delphi and the Column: Epigraphic studies refine our understanding of who fought at Plataea. A modern reconstruction in Delphi restores the original setting.
- Sparta’s Acropolis: Excavations of Athena Chalkioikos provide insight into the sanctuary where Pausanias met his end. Bronze fragments and inscriptions help frame the story.
- Historical Debate: Scholars still argue whether Pausanias truly plotted with Persia or was undone by enemies at home. The evidence is thin and partisan, but his reputation remains tarnished.
Seven Swords Takeaway
Pausanias was a soldier who delivered one of the most important victories in Greek history, only to be consumed by his own ambition. Sparta remembered him less as a hero and more as a cautionary tale. The Serpent Column still stands as a monument to his triumph, while the ruins of the Brazen House whisper the story of his downfall.
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