Battle of Marathon
Athenian military triumph
The Battle of Marathon was a decisive Greek victory over Persian forces in 490 BCE on the plain of Marathon, northeast of Athens.
The outnumbered Athenians and their Plataean allies routed the invading army, proving that Persian military power could be defeated.
A messenger's legendary run to announce the victory inspired the modern marathon race.
The Battle of Marathon marked a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars.
- Persian EmpireAncient Iranian imperial dominion
- PersianOf or from Iran
- AthensGreece's capital city
- ancient GreeceClassical Mediterranean civilization
- hoplitesAncient Greek heavy infantry
Greeks · Darius · spear · shield · bronze armor · phalanx · victory · runner · messenger · run for your life · plain · sea · enemy lines · ships · cavalry · arrows · charge · glory
- Greek WarsPeloponnesian War, Trojan War, Persian Wars, Ionian Revolt, Social War
- ancient GreeceAthens, Sparta, Zeus, Parthenon, Acropolis
- Greco-Persian WarsThermopylae, Salamis, Xerxes, Darius, Leonidas
- 5th Century BCPericles, Socrates, Parthenon, Peloponnesian War, Herodotus
- ancient battlesThermopylae, Salamis, Zama, Naxos, Cremona
- Ancient PersiaPersepolis, Cyrus the Great, Xerxes, Behistun inscription, satrap
battle, battles, battled, battling, battler, marathon, marathons, marathoner, marathoners