490 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
The Battle of Marathon
On the timeline · around 490 BCE ·
What happened
A Persian invasion force sent by Darius I landed at Marathon, northeast of Athens. Heavily outnumbered, the Athenian hoplites under Miltiades used an unexpected tactic to envelop and rout the Persians. By tradition, the Athenians lost 192 men to thousands of Persians.
Why it matters
The improbable victory at Marathon saved Athens, gave the Greeks confidence they could resist the Persian Empire, and became a legend of the Classical world.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Battle of Marathon · Reputable source