Download Tale of the Tape Marathon, 490 BC

Marathon August [?], 490 BC Strategic Context After the failures of an expedition in 492 BC and diplomacy the following year, Darius of Persia invades Greece in 490 BC. A Persian rearguard encamps on the plain of Marathon while the main force threatens Athens by sea. Former Athenian tyrant, Hippias, accompanies the Persians in the hopes of provoking political upheaval in Athens. Most of Greece is intimidated into inaction while even the Spartans do not fight due to a religious festival; only tiny Plataea comes to Athens’ defence. The Athenians must secure a quick victory before Athenian politics betray their cause.

To view animation on PC: hit F5 To view animation on Mac: hit ⌘ + enter Stakes

No Image Available

+ A Persian victory would result in the capture of Athens and the subsequent collapse of the rest of northern Greece. + An Athenian victory would allow them to march to Athens’ defence and repel the Persian invasion.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

Marathon, 490 BC Strength Persians

Athenians & Plataeans

Datis

 Militiades

19,000 infantry 1,000 cavalry

11,000 hoplites

Well

Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

Persian Empire c. 490 BC

The battlefield is extremely restricted with rivers hemming in the two sides on the northwestern and northeastern sides and the Bay of Marathon to the southeast. The actual battlefield is relatively flat with elevated ground to the southwest and northwest. The lowest ground is the marshland in the southern corner of the battlefield. Athenians & Plateans (Miltiades)

0

0.5

1 km

Plain of Marathon

Bay of Marathon

Persians (Datis)

Miltiades deploys sprint histhe army in a long, thin lineofacross thewings valley to prevent the Persian from rounding his flanks;the he places more weight on The Athenians Not surprisingly, towards greater the weight Persians, Miltiades’ the wings edging push ahead back ofthose thecavalry center, of the inlightly order to armoured negate Persians Persian while advantage Datis’ his wings at the expense of his center. Miltiades plans to rush the Persian line with his heavy hoplites before Persian missiles can take their toll. of having significant Immortals push back numbers the thinlyof manned missileAthenian throwers.center. The Persian Meanwhile, missile thethrowers Persian cavalry underestimate is only now the ready fitnesstoof partake the hoplites in the Datis distributes his troops evenly but places his elite infantry, the Immortals, at his center. The Persian cavalry is just returning from a foraging and battle. the speed their advance as most oftroops their are missiles land armoured harmlessly behind the Athenians. assignment and isofnot yet ready for battle. Datis’ more lightly than the Athenians, and rely on missiles to defeat the enemy.

Athenians & Plateans (Miltiades)

0

0.5

1 km

Symbol guide

Athenians & Plataeans Hoplites

Persians

The Immortals are Persia’s most elite unit which double as an imperial Infantryguard and conventional land force. Their numerical Cavalry strength is always supplemented to 10,000, dead or wounded being replaced immediately. Transport ships and This is done to preserve the cohesion mystique of the unit.

Persians Athenians(Datis) & Plataeans 19,000 (Miltiades) infantry 1,000 cavalry 11,000 hoplites

The Immortals

Persians (Datis)

The Persians Some Not Sensing surprisingly, Persians the danger are drown the stilltogreater numerically after his centre, unknowingly weight Miltiades superior of Miltiades’ running so orders Miltiades into it wings to marshland. hang leaves push back. aback passage TheDatis remaining those however of of retreat, the Persian does lightly knowing not units armoured sense are a desperate pounded thePersians danger enemy by the to while his Athenian fights wings. Datis’ its hoplites Immortals Just hardest. as the on The push Athenian the Persian back beaches, center the center, thinly where appears besieged manned they to suffer break, on Athenian three the thesides, center. majority Persian panics Meanwhile, wings of their and areretreats casualties. soundly the Persian in defeated disarray Although cavalry and along isthe retreat only Persians with now inthe ready disarray. escape wings. to partake The The by Athenian sea, Persian in the Athenians battle. wings cavalry surround counterattacks capture theseven Persian before of their centre being ships. and swept begin away, to attack but this itsdoes flanks. allow Datis to organize a rearguard. Athenians & Plateans (Miltiades)

0

0.5

1 km

Symbol guide

Immortals are Persia’s most elite unit AtheniansThe & Plataeans Persians which double as an imperial guard and Hoplites conventional land force.Infantry Their numerical strength is always supplemented to 10,000, Cavalry dead or wounded being replaced immediately. This is done to preserveTransport the cohesion ships and mystique of the unit. Persians Athenians(Datis) & Plataeans 19,000 (Miltiades) infantry 1,000 cavalry 11,000 hoplites

The Immortals

Persians (Datis)

Marathon, 490 BC Casualties & Aftermath Persians:

Athenians & Plateans:

6,400

>200

or

or

32%

2%

The Athenians had little time to celebrate their victory as Athens itself was still undefended. The hoplites arrived in Athens before the Persian fleet, which then saw the triumphant army, hesitated, and sailed away, effectively ending the Persian expedition. It would only be another decade before a Persian force invaded Greece again. By Jonathan Webb, 2009

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps http://www.theartofbattle.com By Jonathan Webb, 2009