The Battle of Marathon 490 BC - Extra Detail

What actions do the Persians take towards other Greeks on their approach to Athens?

• They captured Naxos, enslaving those who didn't escape and burning the temples. They did this because they had tried to conquer Naxos before and had failed (10 years previously)
• Datis ordered the ships not to anchor at Delos, but opposite at Rhenaea. He said that he would cause no harm at Delos because it was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis and he respected the Greek culture. Instead, he piled 300 talents of frankincense upon the altar and burned it as an offering. He did this because Delos had no part in the Ionian revolt and didn't try to fight the Persians. This was intended to send the message that if people were to submit , they wouldn't be harmed and would even be respected
• The Persians fought at Eretria for six days. Two well know Eretrians betrayed their town to the Persians (Euphorbus and Philagrus)
• The Persians stripped the temples and burned them as revenge for the burning of the temples of Sardis, enslaving the people. This was all done for revenge as Eretria was involved in the Ionian revolt

Why did the Persians choose the plain of Marathon to fight the battle?

• It was the Attic territory nearest to Eretria and was the best ground for cavalry and archers (which the Persians used a lot)
• The Persians outnumbered the Athenians 30,000:11,000, meaning that a big open space was the best choice for them as they could swarm the enemy
• The beachfront meant that the Persian ships had access to the battlefield (they had 600 warships)

What reasons did the Spartans give for not providing assistance in the battle? What may be another reason for this?

• The Spartans said that they couldn't march under a full moon, so they had to wait for it to pass
• As the Helot slaves outnumbered the Spartans 20:1, they feared a revolt if they left for too long
• There was also an underlying rivalry between Athens and Sparta

What did Miltiades say would be the outcome if Athens fought/refused to fight?

If they did:

• Athens would earn its freedom and would rise to preeminence over all Greek states

If they didn't:

• Athens would be enslaved and Hippias would return and take over
• Refusing to fight could embolden the Persian sympathisers in Athens

What evidence is there for Greeks 'medizing' (changing sides) in Herodotus' account?

• The Alcmaeonidae were accused of signalling to the Persians with shields
• However, Herodotus doesn't believe this, as according to his account, the Alcmaeonidae hated tyrants and so would never help them
• Two Eretrians betrayed their city to the Persians