0
Athens and it's neighbour Eretria sent a military expedition to Asia Minor to support their daughter cities there in a revolt against their Persian rulers. The expedition overstepped the mark by burning down the Persian provincial capital Sardis. The Persians decided to stop this external interference into it's Empire and mounted a punitive expedition in 490 BCE to capture the two cities and install friendly local tyrants to keep them under control.
Eretria was betrayed by some of its citizens and captured. The Persian force turned to Athens, landing at the plain of Marathon well to the north of the city. The Athenians sent to Sparta for help and with allied support from Plataia, sent it's army north, which stayed in the hills around the Marathon plain, where the superior Persian cavalry couldn't get at them, awaiting the Spartans.
Having so tied up the Athenian army at Marathon, the Persians began loading their cavalry onto ships to row them around the Sounian peninsula to land outside Athens and ride up and take the city, with traitors inside to open the gates to let them in. The Athenian army would then be exposed - between the Persian infantry and the captured city.
The Athenians at Marathon, seeing the Persian cavalry getting aboard the ships, didn't wait - running down and defeating the inferior Persian unarmoured infantry. The Persian cavalry took off by sea for Athens in accordance with their plan.
The Athenians then realised what was going on, and although exhausted from the battle against the Persian infantry, ran back over the hills the 26 miles to Athens, arriving just in time to form up in front of their gates as the Persian cavalry was being unloaded. Frustrated, the Persians gave up the expedition and went home.
The Marathon races which are run today commemorate this run by 9,000 Athenian infantry. However today's runners get it pretty easy - the Athenian warriors had already fought a battle, and had to do the run back to Athens carrying weapons and bronze armour and helmets, and wearing sandals; their diet was also mainly bread. Tough people indeed compared to today's pampered runners. But their motivation and spirit was high enough to be equal to the task of saving their homes and city.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
When did plutarch write the battle of marathon?
500 years after the battle of marathon
2 pictures that represent the battle of Marathon?
Look up : Battle of Marathon by Brian Palmer Also type in picture battle of marathon
Where was the Ancient Greek battle of the marathon held?
The Ancient Greek Battle of Marathon(490B.C.) took place in the bay of marathon
In what year did the Battle of Marathon take place?
The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC. The battle took place in Marathon, Greece. It was a battle between the citizens of Athens, and the Persians.
When did the marathon happen?
The Battle of Marathon occurred in 490 BC .
What is the The Battle of Marathon?
The Battle of Marathon was the first attempt , and first defeat , by Persian forces to subjugate Greece . The Persians were defeated by the Athenians at Marathon , Greece .
When did the battle of marathon start?
The Battle of Marathon started in 490 BC. A couple years after the Persian Wars
Which happened first- battle of Marathon or battle of Platea?
Marathon 490 BCE. Plataea 479 BCE.
Was pan is the battle of marathon?
The presence of Pan , the mythological Greek god , at the Battle of Marathon was not recorded by historians .
When did the Greeks win the battle of Marathon?
The Battle of Marathon was won by Athens and its ally Plataia in 490 BCE.
What was the effect did the athenian runner have on the battle of marathon?
"Nike!" The runner announced "Victory!" over the Persians at the battle of Marathon .
Why was the battle of marathon givin its name?
It took place on the Plain of Marathon.
