Decisions at Marathon

What will you do?

Scenario I

• It is summer 490 BC and you are an Athenian statesman

• You have just heard news – the Persians are coming!

• The Persian fleet is over 1000 warships and their army is 200 000

• The Athenian fleet is 25 warships and our army is 10 000

• It is led by the experienced commanders, Datis and Artaphernes

• They have successfully besieged, captured, burned and enslaved the cities of Naxos and Eretria

• Their fleet is now on its way to Attica

What will you do?

Options

a) Submit to Persia

b) Flee (maybe to Italy where you have colonies)

c) Send messengers to other poleis for help

d) Prepare to defend the city

e) Prepare to defend the beaches

What actually happened?

• Runners sent to Plataea and Sparta

• Athenian army sent to defend the beaches

What will you do?

Scenario II

• It is summer 490 BC and you are the Athenian general Miltiades

• Your colony in Thrace was made Persian vassal 513 BC

• You fought alongside Darius in the Scythian campaign but betrayed him and were forced to flee to your hometown (Athens)

• You were part of Athens force sent to the Ionian Revolt

• You have led the Athenian army to the plain of Marathon

• The Persian army is 25 000 trained infantry, 1000 cavalry and 100 000 sailors

• The Persians have beached their ships and set up camp on the beach

• The Athenian army is 10 000 + 1000 Plataens

• The Greek force is mostly hoplites

What will you do?

Options

a) Retreat to defend the city from behind its walls

b) Set ambushes along the road to Athens

c) Set up in the wooded area on the edge of the plain and await the arrival of the Spartans

d) Set up in the wooded area and send spies to observe the Persians

What actually happened?

• Athenians set up camp in the wooded area

• Waited for Spartans

• Sent out spies to watch the Persians

What will you do?

Scenario III

• You have led the Athenian army to the plain of Marathon

• You have camped for three days in a wooded area

• You are still waiting for the Spartans to arrive

• Your spies report that in the night a force of Persian cavalry and infantry left in ships headed South (towards Athens)

What will you do?

Options

a) Retreat and defend Athens

b) Build a rough wall around your camp at Marathon and defend it

c) Have your the light infantry and small force of cavalry use ‘hit and run’ tactics to attack the Persians

d) March your hoplites at a steady pace toward the Persian in ranks 8 men deep, as they have trained to do

e) Make the wings 8 men deep and the centre to 4 men deep, and charge your hoplites at a run towards the Persians

What actually happened?