Battle of 300 champions

The battle of 300 champions - the battle in 546 BC e. during the war between Sparta and Argos , which was attended by three hundred of the best warriors on each side.

The battle took place in Kinuria (another name for this area is Firetiada), near the city of Firey, to which the armies of Sparta and Argos arrived. The leaders of the armies concluded an agreement according to which not all armies as a whole will fight, but 300 of the best soldiers on each side. The battle was to last until the enemy was completely destroyed; neither side was allowed to bear wounded from the battlefield.

The “Battle of Champions” lasted all day, and in the evening only three remained alive: one Spartan named Ofriad and two Argos warriors. The latter left the battlefield, being sure that none of the opponents was left alive. However, the wounded Ofriad managed to get to the Spartan camp and return back to the battlefield, thereby gaining a "technical victory". After which the Spartan committed suicide in order not to be considered killed in the battle and to give the Spartans a reason to claim victory. Which they did, saying that their warrior had killed himself in shame for letting the last two opponents leave the battlefield alive.

However, the Argives did not recognize the victory of the Spartans, and the next day the battle of the armies of Sparta and Argos in full force took place. The victory was won by the Spartans, thereby gaining control of Kinuria.

Many years later, in 420 BC. e., during the armistice in the Peloponnesian war , Argos invited Sparta to repeat the "Battle of 300 champions." The Spartans refused.