Athenian Hoplite/Bio & Battles

Of all the ancient Greek city-states, the city of Athens had by far the most powerful naval force. The most well-known battle in which the Athenian Navy participated was the battle of Salamis in the Persian Wars, the about 360 Greek triremes, including 180 Athenian vessels decisively defeated a large fleet of 600-1200 Persian ships by taking them by surprise in a narrow strait of Salamis, trapping the Persian fleet in a narrow strait with little room to maneuver and sinking or capturing 300 Persian ship. The Athenian fleet fell into decline after the Peloponnesian War, with the decisive surprise attack by a Spartan fleet at Aegospotami.

Battle vs. Viking (by SPARTAN 119)
Viking:   

Athenians:

A Viking Longship approaches an Athenian Trireme. Each vessel has five men on board. The two vessels close in on each other, and, at a range of about 100 meters, both sides let loose a hail of arrows.

One of the arrows fired by the Vikings hits an Athenian in the unprotected area of the face, killing him, however, the rest of the arrows bounce off the Athenian's shields. One the Viking vessel, one Viking is killed by a bowshot from the an Athenian archer.

The two ships moved in closer, to about twenty feet. A Viking threw a spear at one of the Athenians, however, it bounced off his hoplon. Soon after, the two vessels made contact. A Viking warrior who tried to charge across onto the Athenian ship went down, impaled on a dory.

The Viking who stood next to his fallen comrade blocked a dory strike with his shield, while a second Viking hacked off the head of an Athenians' dory with his Dane Axe. The Viking axeman then pulled away the Athenian's sheild, using the "horns" on his axe as a hood, before splitting the Greek marine's skull down the middle with his axe. .

The Viking axeman is stabbed to death seconds later by an Athenian, who thrust his xiphos into his back, killing him. The Athenian, however, is himself dispatched by a thrown spear striking him in his unprotected side.

The Vikings and Athenian's shield's clash. Both warriors have lost or thrown their spears and are now fighting with swords, the Vikings both armed with broadswords, and one of the Athenian's wielding a kopis and the other a xiphos.

The Athenian with the kopis slashes a Viking's unarmored throat. . The last surviving Viking avenges his comrade by running the Athenian through with his broadsword.

The Viking and Athenian face each other. The Viking blocks a thrust with his shield. The Viking counters with a slashing attack, which is halted by the Athenian's hoplon. The Athenian prepares to make an overhead slash, and the Viking raises his shield to defend. However, its a feint, and the Athenian thrusts his xiphos through the Viking's chain mail, into his chest.

The Athenian raises his sword in triumph as the Viking falls to the deck of the ship.

WINNER: Athenian Marine

Expert's Opinion
The Marines were able to pull out a win in this battle because they had superior and more versatile weaponry and better training which would allow them to overpower their more experienced Viking foes.

To see the original battle, weapons, and votes, click here.