DELIUM, BATTLE OF, 424 B.C. This battle, in the Pelo ponnesian War (q.v.) was the outcome of the Athenians' attempt to get control of Boeotia by a converging attack at three points, helped by expected uprisings of the democratic faction. But the Boeotians were forewarned and the risings forestalled. Neverthe less the main Athenian force was duly disembarked at Delium, on the coast, whither the Boeotians advanced to dislodge it. The significance of the subsequent battle is as a foreshadowing of the great era of Theban generalship under Epameinondas (q.v.), and of his method at Leuctra (q.v.). Room for deployment being re stricted, the Theban commander, Pagondas, formed his right wing in exceptional depth-25 ranks, whereas the Athenians were the customary eight deep. When the two sides clashed, Pagondas's Boeotian left wing was driven in but the concentrated punch of his massive Theban phalanx on the right crushed their opponents. At this juncture Pagondas despatched his cavalry from the right wing, where it was unnecessary, to move round behind the hill from which he had advanced and to fall upon the Athenian right wing. This, disordered by its victorious encounter, was broken by the charge of Pagondas's cavalry, all the more effective because of the rarity of mounted shock tactics at that period. The de feated Athenian army was hotly pursued back to its landing place, and there embarked for home.