The Battle of Marathon (Encore) - Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

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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.

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[00:00]
Host (possibly Gary Arndt)
The following is an encore presentation of Everything Everywhere Daily in the year 490 BC, one of the most pivotal battles in world history took place just north of the city of Athens. Persian and Greek forces clashed in what was to become the first Persian attempt to invade Greece. Despite being outnumbered over two to one, the Greeks managed to win a decisive victory that had long lasting ramifications. Learn more about the Battle of Marathon, its causes and its outcome on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. This episode is sponsored by Quince. Vacation season is nearly upon us and you've heard me talk before about my favorite blanket and towels that I got from Quince, but did you know that they also have a collection of great travel products like lightweight shirts and shorts from just $30 pants for any occasion and comfortable lounge sets. They also have premium luggage options and durable duffel bags to carry everything in. 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With Mint Mobile, I use the exact same network on the exact same cell towers I used before with the exact same phone and exact same phone number. The only thing that isn't the same are the monthly fees. All plans come with high speed data or high speed data, your choice, as well as unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. No matter how you say it, don't overpay for it. Shop data plans@mintmobile.com EED upfront payment of $45 for a 3 month 5GB plan required equivalent to $15 a month new customer offer for the first 3 months only then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. To understand why the Battle of Marathon took place, we have to understand the events that led up. Even a cursory inspection would show that a clash between Greece and Persia was pretty much inevitable. But first, let's start with Greece. Ancient Greece wasn't a singular uniform entity. There was no Greek empire, although there would be a Macedonian Empire later on. The Greeks can be better thought of as a civilization, a collection of city states that often fall with each other, but were united under common linguistic, cultural and religious practices. The Greeks didn't just inhabit the area that makes up modern day Greece. They had spread out, establishing satellite colonies around the coast of the Mediterranean, Black and Aegean seas. For the purpose of this episode. This included many Greek communities that existed in modern day Turkey, especially in the area along the Bosporus Strait and in the Aegean Sea. The Persians were very different from the Greeks. The Persian Empire had expanded rapidly and conquered many lands with different people who had different cultures and languages. The Persian Empire and if you remember back to my previous episode on this subject, I'm talking about the Achaemenid Empire or the first Persian Empire was the largest in the world at this time. As the empire expanded westward, it eventually bumped into Greek cities located on the Asian side of the Aegean. These cities became dominated by the Persians and the Persians sent rulers to govern these cities. And this didn't sit well with the Greeks. Each Greek community had its own set of rules, but for the most part, they did things their own way. And the Persian overlords had no clue about Greek customs and norms. This friction between the Greeks and Persians eventually came to a head in the early 5th century BC. From 499 to 493 BC, several Greek communities along the Aegean and Bosphorus revolted against Persian rule. These were known as the Ionian Revolts. The Persians managed to put down the revolts, but not before the cities of Athens and Eretria had given the rebellious Greek cities aid. In fact, Athens sent troops to assist the city of Sardis in the year 499 BC. This angered the Persian King Darius I, who after the rebellions were put down, sought to seek revenge against the Greek cities who conspired against him. The Ionian revolts were not the first interaction between Greeks and Persians. Darius had extended the Persian empire across the Bosphorus into a region known as Thrace, which includes the modern day parts of European Turkey, Bulgaria and northern Greece. These northern parts of the Greek cultural area were also under the dominion of Darius and had become vassal states. In 491 BC, Darius sent envoys to Athens requesting their submission to Darius. The Athenians executed the envoys and proceeded to create a defensive pact with the city of Sparta. In the event of a Persian invasion in the year 490 BC, Darius decided to launch a punitive expedition against the Greek city states that had supported the rebellious cities in the Ionian revolts. He built an armada of ships and island hopped their way across the Aegean, conquering islands such as Naxos, which had previously resisted Persian advances. The fleet probably carried close to 90,000 people in total, of which 25,000 were believed to have been warriors. Most of the Persian troops were archers and cavalry. The Persian forces were commanded by an admiral by the name of Datis. The first target was the city of Eritrea, one of the two cities that aided the rebels. Eritrea isn't technically on the mainland, but rather is on the island of Euboea. Still, it's literally only 40 meters from the mainland at its closest point, and several bridges cross the strait today. The Persians landed nearby, laid siege to the city, sacked it, and enslaved the survivors. The next stop was to take care of the Athenians. It wasn't actually that far away. They just had to sail up the Attica peninsula, which Athens is located on, and that Eretria was only a few hundred meters from. In September 490 BC, the Persian forces landed about 27 kilometers, or 17 miles northeast of Athens, in a place called the plains of Marathon. The decision to land in Marathon was made by an exiled Athenian by the name of Hippias, who was once a tyrant who ruled the city. The Athenians were aware of what the Persians were doing. They were not being subtle, and they had advanced knowledge from what happened in Eretria. The Athenians assembled an army and headed north. One of their leaders was a man by the name of Miltiades. Miltiades was a former ruler of a Greek colony in Thrace that was a vassal of the Persians. He had tried to sabotage a Persian advance into Scythia, what is today modern day Romania, by burning a bridge across the Danube that would have stranded the Persian army. He later helped with the Ionian revolt and was selected as the leader because he had the most experience fighting the Persians. Miltiades was one of 12 generals who represented the Athenian tribes. In theory, they were supposed to rotate command every day, but every day the new leader just ceded his command to Miltides. Miltiades led a group of about 10,000 Athenian hoppolites to Marathon to block the passage that led out of the plains. The hoplites were infantry units that fought in tight ranks, using a shield heavy Armor and a very long spear. Meanwhile, a runner was sent from Athens to contact Sparta to ask for their assistance and to honor their end of the defensive pact that they made with Athens. The Athenians sent their best runner, a man by the name of Pheopedes. He ran the distance between Athens and Sparta, about 240 kilometers or 150 miles. And in just two days, when pheapedes arrived in Sparta, the Spartans were celebrating their feast of Carnia. The Spartans were warriors through and through and loved a good fight. However, as seriously as they took war, they took their religion even more seriously. The Spartans were not allowed to wage war during Carnia. They told Pheapedes that they would send help, but they couldn't do so until the next full moon, which wasn't for another 10 days. The only Greek city that sent help was the small town of Plataea, which sent about a thousand hoplites. The assistance sent by Plataea wasn't much, but it ended up being a huge morale boost for the Athenian soldiers and for the Athenian citizenry. Back in Marathon, the Persians and the Athenians stared each other down for several days. The Athenians were situated between two groves of trees, so they couldn't be easily outflanked. The weight benefited the Athenians. The longer they could hold out, the closer they got to the arrival of the Spartans. However, after several days, the Athenians eventually attacked. It isn't exactly clear why they did this. Without the Spartans, the leading theory is that the Persian cavalry had left the field and Miltiades was taking advantage of the situation. It could be that the Persians may have decided to get the horses aboard their ships to take them around Athens to attack. While the main army was occupied in Marathon, the Athenian forces lined up for battle in an odd way. The center of the Athenian lines were only four men deep, but the flanks of the Athenian lines were eight men deep. This formation has been debated by military historians for centuries. Some think that this was an attempt at a double envelopment of the Persians. The center would hold while the flanks would try to encircle the Persians, similar to what Hannibal and the Carthaginians would do to the Romans 250 years later at the Battle of Cannae. Others think that this was just an attempt to strengthen the Athenian flank so they wouldn't get outflanked by the Persians. The two sides started out about a kilometer and a half or a mile away from each other. The records of the battle, which were all written well after the event, say that the Athenians sprinted the entire distance to the Persian lines. More probable is that they marched until they were within distance of the Persian archers, of which there were many, and then sprinted the last 200 or so meters to lessen the time they would have to spend under Persian arrows. They were mostly able to protect themselves from arrows by their armor and shields. Once the Athenians clashed with the Persian infantry lines, they had the advantage without any Persian cavalry. And with the Persian archers now mostly neutralized, they were able to deal with the thin Persian infantry lines. The Athenian center was pushed back as expected, given how thin it was. But the Athenian flanks were able to have their way with the Persian flanks, which, as Miltiades probably knew, was where the Persians put their weakest soldiers. Once the Persian flanks collapsed, the center soon collapsed and then the route was on. The Athenians pushed the Persians all the way back to their ships. The archers, once confronted with armored infantry, were no match. The Greek historian Herodotus reported the bodies of 6400 Persian soldiers were counted on the battlefield. The Athenians lost only 192 men and the Palateans only 11. In the process. The Athenians also captured seven Persian ships. This, however, was not the end. Despite the heavy losses incurred by the Persians, they still had a numerical advantage over the Athenians. They sailed their ships south to attempt to attack Athens directly while the Athenian forces were still north in Marathon. The Athenians knew the threat to Athens wasn't over and immediately marched most of their troops back to the city. They managed to block any Persian landing and forced the Persians to retreat back across the Aegean to Asia. After the Athenians had left Marathon, the Spartans showed up a day later, only to realize that the battle had already taken place and the Athenians had won. The entire Spartan army managed to make the entire 240 kilometer or 150 mile trip in just three days on foot. Darius had every intention of assembling a new army and heading back to Greece, but it never happened. He had to attend to other rebellions in other parts of his empire and just never got around to it. That task was given to his son Xerxes, who later attempted an invasion of Greece, which the Spartans later thwarted at the Battle of Thermopylae, which I've covered in a previous episode. At this point you must be noticing that I have completely ignored the one thing you probably think of when I say the word Marathonthe running race that goes by the same name. According to legend, the runner Pheapetes ran the distance from Marathon to Athens to tell everyone the results of the battle. When he arrived in Athens, he supposedly shouted ni nike comin or we have won. And then promptly died. The problem is that there's no evidence for this story. It first appeared over 500 years after the battle took place. It appears to be a confusion of two elements of the Theopedes run to Sparta and the march of the Athenian soldiers back to Athens after the battle. The battle of Marathon wasn't the biggest or greatest battle in history, but it was an extremely important battle. It was a battle between two civilizations. The result of the battle allowed for the creation of Athenian democracy, which became the basis for republican politics in Western culture, as well as for the later development of Greek philosophy and the works of people like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Austin Oakton and Cameron Kieffer. I want to thank everyone who supports the show over on Patreon. Your support helps make this podcast possible. I'd also like to thank all the members of the Everything Everywhere community who are active on the Facebook group and the Discord server. If you'd like to join in the discussion, there are links to both in the show Notes and as always, if you leave a review or send me a boostogram, you too can have it read on the show.