Everything Everywhere Daily: The Battle of Marathon (Encore) – Detailed Summary
Podcast Information:
- Title: Everything Everywhere Daily
- Host: Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media
- Description: Learn something new every day! A daily podcast for intellectually curious people, covering stories of interesting people, places, and things from around the world and throughout history. Topics include history, science, mathematics, anthropology, archaeology, geography, and culture.
Introduction to the Battle of Marathon
In this encore episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, host Gary Arndt delves into the Battle of Marathon, a pivotal clash that occurred in 490 BC between Persian and Greek forces. This battle marked the first Persian attempt to invade Greece and resulted in a decisive Greek victory despite being outnumbered more than two to one.
Historical Context and Prelude to Battle
Understanding Ancient Greece: Gary begins by clarifying that Ancient Greece was not a unified empire but a collection of city-states united by common linguistic, cultural, and religious practices. These city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, often operated independently but shared overarching Civilizational traits. Greeks had established colonies around the Mediterranean, Black, and Aegean Seas, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Turkey.
The Persian Empire’s Expansion: Contrasting with the fragmented Greek city-states, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was a sprawling, centralized power that had rapidly expanded westward. Under King Darius I, Persia became the largest empire in the world at the time, encompassing diverse cultures and languages. As Persia extended its reach into Thrace and the Aegean, friction with the Greek city-states became inevitable.
The Ionian Revolts: From 499 to 493 BC, Greek communities along the Aegean and Bosporus revolted against Persian rule in what are known as the Ionian Revolts. Though the Persians eventually suppressed these uprisings, cities like Athens and Eretria provided support to the rebels, escalating tensions. Athena’s decision to send troops to aid Sardis in 499 BC particularly angered Darius I, setting the stage for retaliation.
Darius’s Response: In response to the rebellions, Darius I aimed to punish the Greek cities. He amassed a formidable armada of approximately 90,000 personnel, including 25,000 warriors, primarily archers and cavalry, under the command of Admiral Datis. The Persian forces embarked on a campaign to subdue the Greek resistance, targeting key cities like Eretria and threatening Athens.
The Battle Unfolds at Marathon
Strategic Landing: In September 490 BC, the Persians landed near the plains of Marathon, about 27 kilometers (17 miles) northeast of Athens. This strategic location allowed them to threaten Athens directly.
Greek Leadership and Strategy: The Athenians, led by Miltiades, a seasoned commander with prior experience combating Persia, rallied a force of approximately 10,000 hoplites—heavily armored infantrymen equipped with shields and long spears. Miltiades, who had previously sabotaged Persian advances by burning a bridge in Thrace, became the de facto leader, consolidating authority despite the theoretical rotational command structure.
Geronimo’s Leadership: Miltiades’s leadership was pivotal. Under his command, the Athenian hoplites positioned themselves between two groves of trees at Marathon, creating a natural barrier that limited Persian flanking maneuvers. Gary notes, “Miltiades was selected as the leader because he had the most experience fighting the Persians” ([12:34]).
Calls for Spartan Assistance: Recognizing the enormity of the Persian threat, Athens entered into a defensive pact with Sparta. An elite runner, Pheopedes, was dispatched to Sparta covering 240 kilometers (150 miles) in just two days. Unfortunately, Sparta’s participation was delayed due to the sacred festival of Carneia, resulting in only a small contingent of Plataean hoplites (about 1,000) joining the Athenians. Gary emphasizes, “The assistance sent by Plataea wasn't much, but it ended up being a huge morale boost for the Athenian soldiers” ([18:45]).
The Clash at Marathon
Deployment and Battle Formation: Facing each other across roughly a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) distance, the Greek hoplites engaged the Persian forces. Gary discusses the debated Athenian battle formation: “The center of the Athenian lines were only four men deep, but the flanks of the Athenian lines were eight men deep” ([25:10]). This unconventional setup has sparked centuries of military analysis, with theories ranging from double envelopment tactics to simply strengthening the flanks to prevent being outflanked by Persian cavalry.
Engagement and Tactics: As the Athenians approached, they likely sprinted the final 200 meters to minimize exposure to Persian archers. The heavy armor and shields of the hoplites provided substantial protection against arrows. Once engaged, the Persian cavalry had been neutralized or redeployed, leaving the infantry vulnerable.
Decisive Greek Victory: The disciplined Greek hoplites overwhelmed the thinner Persian infantry lines. With their flanks securely maneuvered, the Athenians pushed the Persians back towards their ships. Gary cites Herodotus, noting, “The Greek historian Herodotus reported the bodies of 6,400 Persian soldiers were counted on the battlefield” ([40:20]). In contrast, Athenian casualties were minimal, with 192 Athenians and 11 Plataeans losing their lives.
Aftermath and Strategic Impact
Persian Retreat: Despite the heavy losses, the Persians maintained numerical superiority. They attempted a direct assault on Athens but were repelled by the hastily marshaled Athenian forces, forcing the Persians to retreat back to Asia.
Missed Spartan Reinforcement: The arrival of the Spartan army a day after the battle underscored the narrow window of the Greek victory. By then, the decisive engagement at Marathon had already concluded in favor of the Greeks. Gary remarks, “The entire Spartan army managed to make the entire 240 kilometer or 150 mile trip in just three days on foot” ([55:30]).
Darius’s Future Plans: King Darius I intended to assemble a new army for another invasion but was preoccupied with other rebellions across his vast empire. This responsibility was handed over to his son, Xerxes, who would later famously attempt to invade Greece himself, culminating in battles like Thermopylae.
Debunking the Marathon Legend
The Legendary Run: Gary addresses the popular legend of Pheapetes’s run from Marathon to Athens, where he supposedly ran the distance to announce victory with the cry “νίκη” (nike) meaning “victory” before dying. However, Gary points out, “There’s no evidence for this story. It first appeared over 500 years after the battle took place” ([1:05:00]). This myth likely conflates Pheopedes’s actual mission to Sparta and the rapid march of Athenian troops back to Athens post-battle.
Historical Significance and Legacy
Impact on Greek Civilization: While not the largest battle in history, the Battle of Marathon had profound implications. Gary explains, “The result of the battle allowed for the creation of Athenian democracy, which became the basis for republican politics in Western culture” ([1:10:45]). The victory at Marathon preserved Greek independence, enabling the flourishing of democracy, philosophy, and culture, which have significantly influenced Western civilization.
Conclusion: The Battle of Marathon epitomizes a moment where strategic leadership, disciplined military tactics, and civic unity overcame overwhelming odds. It underscored the resilience of Greek city-states and set the stage for future developments that would shape the course of history.
Acknowledgments
Production Team:
- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel
- Associate Producers: Austin Oakton and Cameron Kieffer
Supporters: Gary extends his gratitude to Patreon supporters and the active members of the Everything Everywhere Daily community on Facebook and Discord for their ongoing support and engagement.
Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and unrelated content to focus solely on the historical discussion presented in the episode.