In short
In 490 BC, an Athenian force of roughly 10,000 hoplites met a much larger Persian army at Marathon, a coastal plain northeast of Athens. The Greeks won an upset victory that halted Persian expansion into mainland Greece and became a defining moment for the emerging Greek city-states. The battle triggered decades of conflict between Greek and Persian powers that would reshape the Mediterranean world.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The Greco-Persian Wars, also called the Persian Wars, were a series of armed conflicts involving various Greek city-states and the Achaemenid Empire from 499 BC to 449 BC. The precipitating collision between the fractious political world of ancient Greece and the enormous empire of ancient Persia had begun when the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered the Greek-inhabited region of Ionia in 547 BC. As they struggled to exert authority over the independent-minded Ionian cities, the Persians appointed Greek tyrants to rule each of them, though this would prove to be the source of much trouble for the Greeks and the Persians alike.
As it was happening
10 voices, 6940 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Xerxes mounts second invasion
Darius's successor Xerxes I launches a far larger campaign with hundreds of ships and hundreds of thousands of troops, leading to battles at Thermopylae and Salamis.
Voices from this moment (1)
Xerxes mounts second invasion
Jan 1
“Darius's successor Xerxes I launches a far larger campaign…”
As it was happening
10 voices, 6940 days.
Day 0 · January 1, 480
Xerxes mounts second invasion
Darius's successor Xerxes I launches a far larger campaign with hundreds of ships and hundreds of thousands of troops, leading to battles at Thermopylae and Salamis.
“Darius's successor Xerxes I launches a far larger campaign…”
- Xerxes mounts second invasion, Jan 1
Day 3865 · August 1, 490
Persian fleet lands at Marathon
Datis and Artaphernes arrive with a massive force, including cavalry and infantry, intending to march on Athens.
“Datis and Artaphernes arrive with a massive force,…”
- Persian fleet lands at Marathon, Aug 1
Day 3907 · September 12, 490
Battle of Marathon fought
Athenian hoplites under Miltiades execute a charge at dawn, breaking the Persian center. The Greek phalanx overwhelms Persian formations; Persian fleet withdraws.
“Athenian hoplites under Miltiades execute a charge at dawn,…”
- Battle of Marathon fought, Sep 12
Day 3908 · September 13, 490
Persian fleet attempts Athens
Remaining Persian ships sail for Athens; Athenian forces march back to the city in time to block a landing attempt.
“Persian Forces Crushed at Marathon - Athens Stands Firm…”
- Athenian Agora Gazette, Sep 15
“Marathon Victory Unites Greek City-States Against Eastern…”
- Corinthian Herald, Sep 20
“Athens Claims Victory - Sparta Notes Strategic Implications…”
- Spartan Messenger, Sep 25
“King Darius I Receives Report of Setback in Attic Campaign…”
- Persian Royal Courier (Susa), Oct 5
“Remaining Persian ships sail for Athens; Athenian forces…”
- Persian fleet attempts Athens, Sep 13
Day 4383 · January 1, 492
First Persian invasion force assembled
Darius sends an expedition under Mardonius to conquer Macedonia and Thessaly; storms destroy the fleet.
“Darius sends an expedition under Mardonius to conquer…”
- First Persian invasion force assembled, Jan 1
Day 6940 · January 1, 499
Ionian Revolt begins
Greek cities in Asia Minor rebel against Persian rule, prompting Darius I to plan a punitive expedition against mainland Greece.
“Greek cities in Asia Minor rebel against Persian rule,…”
- Ionian Revolt begins, Jan 1
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
Greek force size
~0 hoplites
Greek casualties
~0 killed
Persian casualties
~0 killed (per Herodotus)
The visual record.
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: Athenian Agora Gazette, Corinthian Herald, Persian Royal Courier (Susa).
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
4 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
Athenian Agora Gazette
Newspaper · Attica, Greece · Sep 15, 490
"Persian Forces Crushed at Marathon - Athens Stands Firm Against Darius"
Synthesized from period reporting - The Athenian hoplites, under the command of Miltiades, have delivered a stunning victory against the vastly larger Persian expeditionary force near the plain of Marathon. The triumph has galvanized the city-state and demonstrated that organized Greek warfare can overcome even the legendary armies of King Darius I.
- Oct 5, 490
Persian Royal Courier (Susa)
Newspaper · Achaemenid Persia
"King Darius I Receives Report of Setback in Attic Campaign - Reinforcements Planned"
Synthesized from period reporting - The royal court at Susa has been informed of the unexpected reversal suffered by General Datis and his forces at the Greek settlement of Marathon. The loss is viewed as a temporary tactical failure, and the Great King has begun assembling resources for a more comprehensive Persian response.
- Sep 20, 490
Corinthian Herald
Newspaper · Corinth, Greece
"Marathon Victory Unites Greek City-States Against Eastern Threat"
Synthesized from period reporting - News of Athens' unlikely triumph over Persian forces has spread rapidly through the Hellenic world. Corinth and other city-states now view the Persian threat with new urgency, recognizing that coordinated Greek resistance may be both necessary and possible.
- Sep 25, 490
Spartan Messenger
Newspaper · Laconia, Greece
"Athens Claims Victory - Sparta Notes Strategic Implications for Peloponnese"
Synthesized from period reporting - While Spartan forces were delayed en route to assist Athens, the Athenians have proven themselves capable against Persian arms. Spartan leadership is reassessing the balance of power in Greece and the looming Persian threat to all Hellenic territories.
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Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.Persian Wars
en.wikipedia.org