Lelantine War

The Lelantine War was a conflict between the Greek city-states of Chalcis and Eretria over the fertile Lelantine Plain on Euboea, traditionally dated to the eighth or seventh century BCE.

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Lelantine Plain: A fertile plain on the Greek island of Euboea, lying between ancient Chalcis and Eretria. Control of this agricultural land was the conflict’s central issue.
Battle of Sardis: A battle during the Ionian Revolt in which Greek forces attacked the Persian-held city of Sardis around 498 BCE. Herodotus reports that Eretrians aided the Ionian Greeks at Sardis.
Archaeology of Euboea: The study of material remains from ancient settlements, sanctuaries, and cemeteries on Euboea. Archaeological evidence is essential where written accounts are sparse.
Euboean colonisation: The establishment of overseas Greek settlements by communities from Euboea, especially Chalcis and Eretria. Both cities expanded abroad during the era associated with their rivalry.
Chalcis: An ancient Greek city on Euboea, situated beside the narrow Euripus Strait. Chalcis fought Eretria for the plain.
Ionian Revolt: A revolt of Greek cities in Asia Minor against Persian rule, lasting from 499 to 493 BCE. Later alliances involving Eretria appear in accounts of this revolt.
Greek Dark Ages: The period of Greek history roughly from 1100 to 800 BCE, marked by major social and political changes. The war’s traditional dating straddles the transition out of this period.
Pithekoussai: An early Greek settlement on the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples, founded in the eighth century BCE. Its founding is associated with Euboean seafaring and settlement.
Eretria: An ancient Greek city on Euboea, near the island’s central western coast. Eretria was Chalcis’s opponent in the conflict.
Hoplite: A heavily armed infantry soldier of ancient Greece, typically equipped with a shield, spear, and helmet. The conflict is often discussed alongside the rise of organized Greek infantry warfare.