Datis

For other uses of the word Dati, see the disambiguation page.

Datis or Datus was a Median admiral who served the Persian Empire, under Darius the Great. He is most notable for his joint leadership with Artaphernes of the Persian forces in the first campaign of the Persian Wars against the Greeks.

Datis was one of the Persian commanders responsible for the siege of Naxos and the sacking of Eretria in 490 BC. He was also leader of the Persian assault force on the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon in the same year. Ctesias of Cnidus relates that Datis was slain at Marathon and that the Athenians refused to hand over his body,^[1] however this conflicts with Herodotus' earlier analysis that Datis survived the battle ^[2]

Datis was originally called to duty alongside Artaphernes for the Greek invasion because Darius I had decided to temporarily relieve Mardonius of military service due to an injury he suffered in the Thracian campaign.

Datis is mocked in Aristophanes' play "Peace", where Trygaeus exclaims: "Now is the time to sing as Datis did, as he masturbated at high noon: 'Oh pleasure! oh enjoyment! oh delights!'” ^[3]

References

Ancient Near East portal

External links

• Livius.org: Datis

v • d • e Median topics Language Median language, Iranian language Median Empire and its neighbors, ca. 600 BC Cities Ecbatana • Rhagae • Hyrba Battles involving Lydia Battle of Halys Battles involving Persia Persian Revolt • Battle of Hyrba • Battle of the Persian Border • Siege of Pasargadae Hill • Battle of Pasargadae • Fall of Ecbatana Kings/Satraps Deioces • Phraortes • Madius • Cyaxares • Astyages • Cyaxares II Other Medeans Amytis of Media • Artembares • Datis • Gubaru • Mazares • Aryenis • Mandane

This Middle Eastern biographical article related to the military is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This Ancient Near East biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e