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This article challenges the current scholarly consensus that the scythed chariot was developed by the Persians for use against Greek hoplites. Closer examination of the historical record reveals that the scythed chariot was a specialized device deployed only under specifi c battlefi eld conditions and used against all types of infantry and cavalry. Reviewing the information provided by Xenophon's Cyropaedia and Ctesias' Persica in the context of the evolution of chariotry in the ancient Near East, I argue that the most plausible origin for the scythed chariot is in the Neo-Assyrian period.* I am grateful to Mark Munn, Garrett Fagan, Zoe Stamatopoulou, and the anonymous readers at Historia, whose comments and suggestions on various drafts of this paper improved the fi nal product considerably. All conclusions and any remaining errors are, of course, my own.

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This article makes three arguments regarding the Battle of Thermopylae. First, that the discovery of the Anopaea path was not dependent upon Ephialtes, but that the Persians were aware of it at their arrival and planned their attacks at Thermopylae, Artemisium, and against the Phocians accordingly. Second, that Herodotus' claims that the failure of the Phocians was due to surprise, confusion, and incompetence are not convincing. And third, that the best explanation for the Phocian behavior is that they were from Delphi and betrayed their allies as part of a bid to restore local control over the sanctuary.

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