The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece. Athenians led a small group of Greek coalition forces to victory Perhaps at this point the Theban contingent may have surrendered (although this is disputed amongst scholars). The Persian Empire in 500 BC. 3. The Spartans toured the battlefield at Marathon, and agreed that the Athenians had won a great victory. The battle would take on mythical status amongst the Greeks, but in reality it was merely the opening overture of a long war with several other battles making up the principal acts. The story of these day runners is the origin of the marathon race. Most, however, wore armor made from linen, which nonetheless provided good protection. The Greeks' favored way of fighting was in a formation called the phalanx. In their mutual refusal to bow down, the traditional rivals for power in the Grecian Peninsula had tied themselves together as both allies and leaders in the defense against Persia. Responding to the impending crisis, Athens raised around 9,000 hoplites and dispatched them to Marathon where they blocked the exits from the nearby plain and prevented the enemy from moving inland. Please donate to our server cost fundraiser 2023, so that we can produce more history articles, videos and translations. Dept. The romantic tale of the runners joyful sacrifice (which caught the imagination of 19th century writers and popularized the myth, but was in reality far more impressive, and far less tragic) tells of an incredible long distance run to beg the military assistance of Sparta, and the determined quick march of the battle-worn Athenians from Marathon back to Athens to defend their city. Ultimately the Persians took control of the pass, but the heroic defeat of Leonidas would assume legendary proportions for later generations of Greeks, and within a year the Persian invasion would be repulsed at the battles of Salamis and Plataea. In 2005, outside of the normal competition, he decided to fully retrace the steps of Pheidippides and ran from Athens to Sparta and then back to Athens. Athens, along with the smaller port city of Eretria, were amenable to the cause and readily pledged their assistance. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Because they were in a religious ceremony and had to wait until the next full moon which was when it After nearly a week of inaction, the Greek commander, Militiades, moved forward to attack despite being badly outnumbered. Robert Bliss has taught history and other social studies to students age 7 to 18 since 2009. Using innovative tactics, he succeeded in trapping the Persians in a double envelopment and nearly surrounding their army. In around 500 BCE, the Persian Empire looked poised to continue their western expansion and absorb tiny, disunited Greece into their fold. The runner Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta and back again in just three days. Hickman, Kennedy. In the map seen in figure 1, some of the most important city-states can be found, including Athens. The Spartans declined to send aid at that time, due to a religious ceremony, but promised to come after the next full moon. Fink, Dennis L., The Battle of Marathon in Scholarship, McFarland & Company, Inc., 2014. Help us and translate this definition into another language! This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Meanwhile at Artemision, the Persians were battling the elements rather than the Greeks, as they lost 400 triremes in a storm off the coast of Magnesia and more in a second storm off Euboea. Mary has a Master's Degree in History with 18 advanced hours in Government. There was a single disadvantage, though the hills surrounding the plain of Marathon offered only one exit through which a large army could quickly march, and the Athenians had fortified it, ensuring that any attempt to take it would be dangerous and deadly. The Athenians had called upon every available soldier in order to have any chance against the Persians, and yet they were still outnumbered by at least two to one. The Battle of Marathon also gave rise to the legend that the Athenian herald Pheidippides ran from the battlefield to Athens to announce the Greek victory before dropping dead. As a result, the Spartan army was unwilling to march north until the next full moon which was over a week away. All while the Greek forces had lost only 200 men. We are victorious! echoed across the expectant crowd, and in the second before they broke into a jubilant celebration, Pheidippides, overcome with exhaustion, staggered and fell to the ground, dead or so the myth of the origins of the first Marathon goes. The Athenian force numbered around 10,000, including 1,000 Plataeans, and was led by the Athenian General Miltiades. The wall was in a state of ruin, but the Spartans made the best repairs they could in the circumstances. Greek HopliteJohnny Shumate (Public Domain). The Greeks, fielding the largest hoplite army ever seen, won the battle and finally ended Xerxes' ambitions in Greece. of History, US Military Academy (CC BY-SA). Athens and Sparta were able to galvanize a number of cities, previously petrified at the thought of a Persian attack, into defending their homeland. Ten years later the Persians returned and won a victory at Thermopylae before being defeated by the Greeks at Salamis. THE PERSIANS WENT RUNNING FOR THEIR SHIPS. This tale of romantic sacrifice then caught the attention of author Robert Browning in 1879, who wrote a poem entitled Pheidippides, which deeply engaged his contemporaries. According to legend, an Athenian messenger was sent from Marathon to Athens, a distance of about 25 miles (40 km), and there he announced the Persian defeat before dying of exhaustion. The Athenians realized they had only two options to defend their families to the end, or to be killed, very likely tortured, enslaved, or mutilated (as the Persian army had a fun habit of cutting off the ears, noses, and hands of their defeated enemies). The Persian defeat at Marathon halted the Persian Empire's western expansion, and ensured continued Greek Most of what we know comes to us from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who was writing of these events decades after they occurred. She has taught college History and Government courses. In the face of this, the Greek generals concluded that their only option was to hold a defensive position for as long as possible, wedged between the fortified hills that surrounded the Bay of Marathon. 30 chapters | Greco-Persian WarsKelly Macquire (CC BY-NC-SA). It was an attempt by a vengeful Persian king Darius the Great to expand his empire across the Aegean Sea. As an interesting footnote: the important strategic position of Thermopylae meant that it was once more the scene of battle in 279 BCE when the Greeks faced invading Gauls, in 191 BCE when a Roman army defeated Antiochus III, and even as recent as 1941 CE when Allied New Zealand forces clashed with those of Germany. He had just run the full 40 kilometers from Marathon to Athens. Indeed, Spartan indifference is epitomised by Dieneces, who, when told that the Persian arrows would be so dense as to darken the sun, replied that in that case the Spartans would have the pleasure of fighting in the shade. Greek Dark Ages Facts & Culture | When was the Greek Dark Age? The victory at Marathon may not have been a crushing defeat of Persia as a whole, but it still stands as a major turning point. This saw the center reduced to ranks four deep while the wings featured men eight deep. The Persian infantry carried a lightweight (often crescent-shaped) wicker shield and were armed with a long dagger or battleaxe, a short spear, and composite bow. What was the most important impact of the Battle of Marathon? According to Herodotus, an Athenian runner named Pheidippides was sent to run from Athens to Sparta to ask for assistance before the battle. was part of the first Persian invasion of Greece. WebThe battle of Marathon was fought in September of 490 B.C., when the Persian king Darius I sent a force to subdue Athens after the Athenians had supported the Ionian Greeks during their unsuccessful rebellion against Persian rule in western Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). The relatively small size of the defending force has been explained as a reluctance by some Greek city-states to commit troops so far north, and/or due to religious motives, for it was the period of the sacred games at Olympia and the most important Spartan religious festival, the Karneia, and no fighting was permitted during these events. The Athenian and Plataean dead of Marathon were buried on the battlefield in two tumuli. When did Terry Fox start his marathon of Hope? February 1979 Terry begins training for his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research and awareness. During his training he runs over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles). Seeing them begin to retreat, the Greek wings displayed excellent discipline in not following the fleeing enemy, and instead turned back in to attack what remained of the Persian center to relieve the pressure on their own thin center forces. And that perfect distance was all the allure needed for Datis to settle on Marathon as a landing point for his army. At the Battle of Marathon, Athens' underdog victory stunned Persia The surprise defeat of the mighty Persian Empire in 490 B.C. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. World History Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Why was the battle of Marathon fought? The marathon race is named after the false story that Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens (a distance of 26.2 miles) to deliver news of the victory. Depots of equipment and supplies were laid, a canal dug at Chalkidike, and boat bridges built across the Hellespont to facilitate the movement of troops. The Greco-Persian Wars Results & Significance | What Caused the Greco-Persian Wars? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. All rights reserved. Kipruto has also championed the 2018 Toronto Marathon (2:05.13) and the 2021 Prague Marathon (2:10.16). The Persian Empire landed a force of about 25,000 or 30,000 soldiers at the Bay of Marathon, where they were decisively defeated by a Greek force of about 11,000 hoplite soldiers. The Greeks would amass over 300 triremes and perhaps their main purpose was to prevent the Persian fleet sailing down the inland coast of Lokris and Boeotia. And worse to the slaughter or imprisonment of their families; their wives; their children. Though todays official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is not based on the run in Greece, but rather on the distance regularized by the 1908 Olympics in London. But the Greeks remained outnumbered and outmatched, the enemy they faced, according to ancient historians, standing at over 100,000 men strong. They werent so concerned about the Greeks; the exact opposite, actually). Leonidas had stationed the contingent of Phokian troops to guard this vital point but they, thinking themselves the primary target of this new development, withdrew to a higher defensive position when the Immortals attacked. that Darius would make strides towards the conquest of stronger Greek resistance. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. Michel Bral, of France, suggested recreating the famous poetic run, and the idea caught hold. This was later conflated with the victorious Athenian army marching back to Athens at a quickened pace. iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order The History of Guns, Greek Mythology: Stories, Characters, Gods, and Culture, Aztec Mythology: Important Stories and Characters, Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts, Roman Gods and Goddesses: The Names and Stories of 29 Ancient Roman Gods, https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-html/, The XYZ Affair: Diplomatic Intrigue and a Quasi-War with France, 3/5 Compromise: The Definition Clause that Shaped Political Representation, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: The Complete List from Aboriginals to Incans, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? The Greeks were spurred on by desperate courage, and they were determined to clash with the Persian army to defend their freedom. - Mythology & Facts, Who was Telemachus? As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Having somewhere in the region of 80,000 troops at his disposal, the Persian king, who led the invasion in person, first waited four days in expectation that the Greeks would flee in panic. And many states, even including Persia, employed Greek hoplite mercenaries to do their fighting for them for many years after the Persian defeats at the hands of the Greeks. He suggests that the summer heat of August may have pushed the runner After the battle, Xerxes ordered that Leonidas' head be put on a stake and displayed at the battlefield. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Bantu speaking migrants had recently arrived in modern-day South Africa. The second day followed the pattern of the first, and the Greek forces still held the pass. Free men, in respect of their own laws, had sacrificed themselves in order to defend their way of life against foreign aggression. Next in King Darius' sights were Athens and the rest of Greece. Darius' response to this diplomatic outrage was to launch a naval force of 600 ships and 25,000 men to attack the Cyclades and Euboea, leaving the Persians just one step away from the rest of Greece. As Herodotus claims in his account of the battle in book VII of The Histories, the Oracle at Delphi had been proved right when she proclaimed that either Sparta or one of her kings must fall. Yet while those Greek scholars were laying the groundwork for our world today, the leaders and everyday citizens were concerned about being conquered, enslaved, or slaughtered by the powerful, unknown society to the East: the Persians. Even so, it wouldnt be until 500 B.C. Pursuing the enemy, the Greeks were slowed by their heavy armor, but still managed to capture seven Persian ships. They joined with the Spartans and King Leonidas during the legendary suicidal stand in the pass of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartans stood against tens of thousands of Persian soldiers. Just why Greece was coveted by Persia is unclear. Not only did this halt Persian expansion, but it also ensured continued Greek independence - at least until king Philip II of Macedon brought the Greek city-states under Macedonian control over one hundred years later in 338 BCE. They also relied on more mixed tactics. 1. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer. The battle would take on mythical status amongst the Greeks, The historian Herodotus reports that their retreat was disciplined and organized. Greece was about to face its greatest ever threat, and even the oracle at Delphi ominously advised the Athenians to 'fly to the world's end'. Who was the winner of the Battle of Marathon? The incorrect version of events has Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the victory and dying of exhaustion immediately afterwards. Most modern historians believe the Greeks marched at normal speed until they arrived within range of the Persian archers (approximately 200 meters) and then ran the remaining distance in order to close the gap more quickly. This assistance came to nothing, and the revolt was put down in 493 BCE. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Read about what happened at the Battle of Marathon in ancient Greece. Every hoplite carried a wooden shield, called a hoplon, with an outer layer made from bronze. The Greek forces included 300 Spartans and their helots with 2,120 Arcadians, 1,000 Lokrians, 1,000 Phokians, 700 Thespians, 400 Corinthians, 400 Thebans, 200 men from Phleious, and 80 Mycenaeans. The Battle of Marathon was the first major victory for the Greeks over the Persians and gave them confidence that they could be defeated. With your support millions of people learn about history entirely for free, every month. The Battle of Marathon was a historic battle that saw the great and mighty army of Persia face off against the Greek city-state of Athens. They left their infantry to keep the Athenian army occupied at Marathon, but under cover of darkness theyd packed up and loaded their fast-moving cavalry back onto their ships. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/thermopylae/. World History Encyclopedia, 16 Apr 2013. After a series of political negotiations it became clear that the Persians would not gain victory through diplomacy and the two armies met at Plataea in August 479 BCE. Therefore, the Spartans, widely credited as being the best fighters in Greece and the only polis with a professional army, contributed only a small advance force of 300 hoplites (from an estimated 8,000 available) to the Greek defensive force, these few being chosen from men with male heirs. Last mile update 11:39 a.m. It was preceded by the Ionian Revolt. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. On top of that, defeat at the battle of Marathon meant the utter destruction of Athens. A soldier by the name of Pheidippides burst through still clad in full armor, splattered with blood and dripping with sweat. "Persian Wars: Battle of Marathon." Around fifty years before this time, the Persians, centered in the south of modern-day Iran, had rapidly expanded their territories to include Ionia, a small area on the western coast of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) that was originally settled by Greek colonists. Battle of Salamis History & Strategy | Who Won the Battle of Salamis? The Battle of Marathon marked an important shift in historical momentum as the always quarrelsome, squabbling Greeks managed to stand together and defend against the powerhouse of the Persian Empire for the first time after years of fear. The Persian defeat at Marathon halted the Persian Empire's western expansion, and ensured continued Greek independence. The Athenians also famously used day runners to send messages asking for help. A victory that proved to them that, together, and with the use of careful timing and tactics, they could stand up to the might of the great Persian Empire. "Persian Wars: Battle of Marathon." In 490 BCE Greek forces led by Athens met the Persians in battle at Marathon and defeated the invaders. The hoplites' main advantage were their shields, with an outer bronze layer, and their heavier armor. And Athens was desperate. Desperate, the Ionians asked many of the mainland Greek city-states to send help. This stubbornness forced the two armies to remain at a stalemate for about five days, facing one another across the plain of Marathon with only minor skirmishes breaking out, the Greeks managing to keep hold of their nerve and their defensive line. With hard to meet entry requirements and checkpoints set up during the actual race, the course is much more extreme, and runners are often pulled before the end due to being overly fatigued. The result of the battle was, however, indecisive and on news of Leonidas' defeat, the fleet withdrew to Salamis. Persian Wars: Battle of Marathon. The Roman Republic was only six years old. The Spartans assured him that they were eager to help, but they were in the middle of their festival of Carneia, a fertility celebration associated with the god Apollo; a period during which they observed a strict peace. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. The battle of Thermopylae, and particularly the Spartans' role in it, soon acquired mythical status amongst the Greeks. By the end of the battle, between 5,000 and 6,500 Persians lay dead on the field. How old is the United States of America? The left and right wings of the Greek army consisted of the normal eight-man columns. corps of cadets outfits, is ding dong ditching illegal in pennsylvania, sast vehicle pack fivem,
