Transcript 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.
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