Battle of the Great Foss

The Battle of the Great Foss occurred in 682 BC during the Second Messenian War (685–668 BC). The word "foss" derives from the Latin fossa, meaning "ditch" or "trench."[1] According to ancient historian Pausanias the outcome of the battle was determined by trickery. The Spartans bribed Aristocrates, the king of the Arcadians, to withdraw his men just as the battle was beginning. This resulted in the slaughter of the Messenians.[2]

Battle of the Great Foss
Date c. 682 BC? Location Peloponnesus Result Decisive Spartan victory
Belligerents
Messenia Arcadia	Sparta
Commanders and leaders
Aristomenes Androcles Fidas Aristocrates II

References and further reading

1. Croker, Temple Henry; Clark, Samuel; (Londres), John Coote; Williams, Thomas; (Londres), James Fletcher; (Dublin), William Smith (1765). The Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. In which the Whole Circle of Human Learning is Explained, and the Difficulties Attending the Acquisition of Every Art, Whether Liberal Or Mechanical, are Removed, in the Most Easy and Familiar Manner ... authors, and sold.
2. Montagu, Battles of the Greek and Roman Worlds, 49.

Sources

• Montagu, John Drogo. Battles of the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Chronological Compendium of 667 Battles to 318BC. Mechanicsburg, PA: Greenhill Books, 2000.