- Underestimating the enemy: The Greeks did not take the Cicones seriously enough and were caught off guard by their fierce resistance.
- Lack of preparation: The Greeks were not prepared for a prolonged conflict and were quickly running out of supplies.
- Unfamiliar territory: The Greeks were not familiar with the terrain and were easily ambushed by the Cicones.
- Poor leadership: The Greek leaders were not able to effectively coordinate their forces and were unable to come up with a strategy to defeat the Cicones.
- Unfamiliarity with the terrain: The Greeks were unfamiliar with the terrain of the Cicones, which gave the Cicones an advantage in the battle.
- Mismanagement: The Greeks were disorganized and did not have a clear plan of attack, which allowed the Cicones to take advantage of their weaknesses.