Pheidippides Challenge

The Battle on the plain of Marathon in September 490 BCE between Greeks and the invading forces of Persian king Darius I was a victory that would go down in folklore as the moment the Greek city-states showed the world their courage and excellence and won their liberty. The Persians would meet their match in 490 BCE when the Greek forces led by Athens gathered at the plain of Marathon to defend their country from foreign subjugation.

The Persian force first landed at Karystos and then Eretria in northern Euboea, sacking both cities before moving across the strait to the eastern end of the bay of Marathon on the 1st and 2nd of September. Marathon was chosen as a suitable landing point for the Persians because it provided ideal terrain for the cavalry units. In addition, the site also had a nearby lake offering a plentiful supply of water for both men and horses. 

When the Greeks discovered the invasion point, there was some discussion amongst the Athenian generals whether to stay or meet the invaders, but the latter was the option decided upon and on arrival at Marathon on the 3rd or 4th of September, they set up camp near the sanctuary of Hercules at the western end of the bay, to be shortly joined by the Plataeans. The Spartans, celebrated as the finest fighters in Greece, were delayed in their mobilization because they were involved in the sacred Karneia festival. 

On the 11th of September,  the Greeks drew up their battle lines in the center of the bay while the Persians had embarked only half of their infantry. The Persian cavalry is mysteriously absent from the battle scene. Eventually, though, the infantry on both sides engaged in battle. A lengthy and bloody struggle ensued with eventually the center of the Persians, perhaps predictably, pushing the weakened Greek center back. However, both the right and left flank of the Greeks got the upper-hand of the Persians, driving them back. The lines were, therefore, broken and a confused melee was the result. The Persians, now routed on the left and right, fled back to their ships, but to reach them they had to cross a wide marshy area. In the confused retreat the Greek wings closed into the center and attacked both the Persian center and pursued the fleeing Persian flanks, inflicting heavy casualties. The Greeks captured seven ships of the enemy, but the rest of the fleet escaped with any Persians who had managed to climb aboard.

The Greeks had won a great victory. According to tradition 6,400 Persians were dead, for only 192 Greeks.