The Battle Of Greek And Persian Empires

By Daniel Meyer


This battle has became one of the famous engagements of military. This is also one of the recorded battles in the earliest times. The victory over Persian invaders has given the Greeks a confidence in having the ability of defending themselves and they continue to believe for their existence. This battle was then considered as one defining moment for developing European culture.

In the year 490 BC, Persians have 600 ships and they have about 20,000 cavalries and infantries approximately and they invaded Greek soil, near to the Athens. Their mission is crushing all the states of the Greeks in retaliation of support for lonian cousins which revolted against rules of Persian. The undaunted Athens immediately mobilized 10,000 warriors in defense of their territory. The 2 armies met at the Marathon plain that is 26 miles far from north Athens. This meeting begins the Battle of Marathon.

The plain of Marathon is being surrounded with many hills and sea. The plain is also ideal for cavalries of Persian. Greek general Miltiades stated a plea and asked the fellow generals to invade the Persians. After, he ordered the warriors to form a line similar to the opponent. Warriors are also ordered to attach the dead run lines. In the war, Greek lines were weakened, but fortunately, the flanks had engulfed and had slaughtered their opponents who were trapped. An estimation of 192 Greeks and of 6,400 Persians are killed during war.

All remaining opponents escaped immediately through their own ships. While moving, they still even attempted on attacking the Athens. Before the start of war, the Athenian generals were divided basing on opinions. Half of the generals prefer to not take the risks of fighting since their people are only a few.

There are also some generals who already have experiences in fighting. One of them is Miltiades. Upon seeing that the opinion were divided, he then asked the counsel to have a short conference with him at the polemarch. The polemarch is the dignitary of Athenians which is being honored.

In the conference, he said that if their troop will not fight, there is a great possibility of Athens disturbance that may shake resolutions of the men. And the thing that he fears most is seeing their people submitting themselves. Whereas if they will fight, they can surely overcome the enemy. Through his words, the title was given to him and also had convinced everyone in the polemarch to fight.

After their battle, many different explanations have been made concerning on Greeks victory. Others said they obtain much better equipment and superior tactics. And to think, their equipment are produced from leather or linen materials and not from bronze materials. Some explanations also stated that Greek phalanxes formation are far more better than Persian soldiers.

For the Persians, their strategies are said to be determined through tactical considerations. And whatever event that has started the battle has surely altered these tactical and strategic balances induced by the Athenians to attack opponents. Some other theories are also believed for these considerations.

At the Marathon, Athenian warriors had thinned their center so they can have an equal length with their opponent and not for tactical planning. In this time, the Persians realized that the wings are broken. Thus, they tried to recur, but they were caught by the Greek wings.




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