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Marathon
Greek Hoplite
Phalanx
Hoplon 3‘ wide.
Hoplite
Falcata/Kopis
xiphos
Persian Armament
Orientation
• Athenians & Plateans • Persians
– Led by Miltiades & – Led by
Callimachus; Arimnestus • Datis - Army Cmdr
for the Plateans • Artaphernes - Navy Cmdr
– 10,000 troops (9k – 600 galleys
Athens/ 1k Plateans) – 10-15,000 troops (~30k total)
– Phalanx formations – Light force
– Heavy Infantry – Primarily cavalry and archers
– Shock Action/No – Missile power, no shock.
firepower
– No cavalry
– Unbreakable front,
vulnerable flanks.
Why invade the Athenians?
• The Athenians expelled their King and tyrant, Hippias, out
of Athens, who fled to Sardis (Persian capital in Asia
Minor).
– Persia demands he be put back, war declared.
– Athens sends 20 ships to Ionia.
– Democracy formed in Athens (1st in history)
• Punish Eretria and Athens for supporting the Ionian revolt
in 499 B.C. (and the burning of Sardis)
• Secure the Aegean Sea and western end of the Persian
Empire.
• Miltiades, a former vassal of Darius I, fought for him
against the Scythians in 513 BC, and now opposes him.
How to get to the fight?