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Then at length, when his own turn was come, the Athenian battle was
set in array, and this was the order of it. Callimachus the
Polemarch led the right wing; for it was at that time a rule with the
Athenians to give the right wing to the Polemarch. After this
followed the tribes, according as they were numbered, in an unbroken
line; while last of all came the Plataeans, forming the left wing.
And ever since that day it has been a custom with the Athenians, in
the sacrifices and assemblies held each fifth year at Athens, for the
Athenian herald to implore the blessing of the gods on the Plataeans
conjointly with the Athenians. Now, as they marshalled the host upon
the field of Marathon, in order that the Athenian front might he of
equal length with the Median, the ranks of the centre were
diminished, and it became the weakest part of the line, while the
wings were both made strong with a depth of many ranks.
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