The Battle of Marathon: How the Greeks Defeated the Persian Empire

490 BCE—Persia, the superpower of the ancient world, invades Greece.

King Darius I sends a massive force to crush Athens.

The Athenians, outnumbered nearly 2 to 1, have no allies except a small force from Plataea.

With no walls to protect them, they must fight in the open.

Their only hope?

A bold and unexpected strategy.

The Persians land at Marathon, confident in their superior numbers.

The Greeks, led by Miltiades, form a unique battle formation—strong wings and a weaker center.

As they charge, the Persians push back the Greek center, but the flanks close in, trapping them.

The Persian army, caught in chaos, begins to collapse under the relentless Greek assault.

The Persian soldiers, unprepared for the Greek strategy, panic.

Their light armor is no match for the heavily armed hoplites.

As the Greek wings crush them from both sides, the Persians retreat in disarray.

Many are cut down as they flee to their ships.

The once-invincible Persian army is humiliated, suffering thousands of casualties in the rout.

With the battle won, a Greek soldier runs 26 miles to Athens to deliver the news—giving birth to

the modern marathon race.

The victory at Marathon proves that Persia is not invincible.

Athens gains confidence, setting the stage for future Greek triumphs.

This battle marks the beginning of Greece’s rise as a dominant power in the ancient world.