Another thing as to the Immortals and their failure to best the Spartans. It's quite unfortunate for the Persians in that body but they were the victims of regional differences in warfare. The Greek ritualistic and highly rigid form of warfare versus their own far more fluid and mobile warfare.

It's quite ironic how many features of the macro for the Persian's phyric victory are echoed through history at many other points. Consistently, the cycle of new weapon then new defense rising.