Battle of Marathon
Also known as: Marathon battle
The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece.
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Battle of Marathon: Herodotus
According to Herodotus, Darius had his bow brought to him and then shot an arrow "upwards towards heaven", saying as he did so: "Zeus, that it may be granted me to take vengeance upon the Athenians!"
Battle of Marathon: Thermopylae, 480 BCE
The Persian infantry was evidently lightly armoured, and no match for hoplites in a head-on confrontation (as would be demonstrated at the later battles of Thermopylae and Plataea.)