Essay - Battle of Marathon
MOHAMED ABBOU
Explain the reasons for the Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon
There were many reasons that influenced Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon. The
victory at Marathon was very significant not only for Athens but for the rest of Greece as
the Persians were considered to be the strongest army at the time. As a result, the
Athenians received much honour and glory for their defeat of the Persians and so their
reputation increased. Pindar lauded Athens as ‘Bulwark of Hellas...city of godlike men”.
The Greek victory can be asserted to many reasons including the absence of Persian
cavalry; the strategies and tactics used by the Greeks; the Greeks superior weapons
and armour; and the role of Miltiades.
The absence of the Persian cavalry at the Battle of Marathon was a significant reason
that influenced Greek victory. Ehrenburg suggests that the Athenian decision to initiate
the fight, despite being heavily outnumbered by the Persians, was merely a military one
based on the absence of cavalry from the battle which played a major part in the
Persian army’s strategy and tactics. This could be explained by the fact that the cavalry
was useless against the elevated position of the Greeks. However, according to Sealey,
suggests that the Athenian decision to fight was dictated by the political necessity of
preventing Athens from being betrayed to the Persians by supporters of the ex-tyrant
Hippias. Although, it is confirmed by the very late source that explains what Datis, the
Persian admirals intentions were. According to the Byzantine lexicon of the Suda, a
Greek proverb ‘the horsemen are away’ is discussed with reference to the Battle of
Marathon, when some Ionians from the Persian side revealed to the Greeks that the
cavalry had embarked or was embarking. Hence, the absence of the Persian cavalry
was a significant reason reason that influenced Greek victory at Marathon.
Another reason that contributed to the Greek victory at Marathon was the effective use
of strategies and tactics. According to Herodotus, one result of the disposition of the
Athenian troops before the battle was ‘the weakening of their centre by the efforts to
extend the line sufficiently to cover the whole Persian front; the two wings were strong,
but the line in the centre was only a few ranks deep’. The Athenians initiated the battle
advancing at a run towards the Persians and risking an assault with a heavily
outnumbered force. According to the Persian battle doctrine, their best troops, true
Persians, fought in the center, while conscripts, fought on the flanks. The Persian elite
forces attacked the centre of the Greeks, easily gaining the ascendancy, however the
Persian conscripts whom the hoplites faced on the wings were defeated. The Greeks
then caved in the remaining Persians leading to their inevitable defeat. The superior
tactics used by the Greeks altered the consequences of the battle significantly despite
them being heavily outnumbered. Therefore, the effective use of strategies and tactics
ensured Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon.
The Greeks’ superior armour and weapons was another reason that influenced Greek
victory at Marathon. According to Herodotus, “in bravery and physical strength the
Persians were not inferior to the Greeks, but they were inferior in arms and have no
knowledge of fighting in formation.” The armour of the Greeks was superior to that of
the Persians. Although, the Greeks were outnumbered almost 2:5, their dominance in
hand-hand combat significantly impacted the outcome of this battle. The Greek hoplite
was heavily-armoured. He wore a leather-lined bronze helmet, a breastplate (thorax),
and greaves; on his left forearm he carried a shield (hoplon) which played a significant
role in the Greek phalanx. The weapons used included; the dory, a long spear
measuring about 2.5 metres in length; and the xiphos, a short sword efficient in handhand combat. Contrasting to the Persians, their armour was rendered useless against
the heavily armed Greek forces. The Persians wore little to no armour and had only
wicker shields which proved to be a major disadvantage for close hand-hand combat.
Thus, the Greeks’ superior armour and weapons was another reason that ensured
Greek victory at Marathon.
Another reason that determined the Greek victory at Marathon was the important role of
Miltiades and his skilled leadership. It is evident from Herodotus’ account that Miltiades
played a significant role in the Battle of Marathon as well as a key role in events before
and after the battle. As a former tyrant in Chersonese, Ionia, he would have had firsthand knowledge of Persian tactics which was a possible reason why Callimachus, the
polemarch of Athens, was prepared to listen to his advice at Marathon. The Athenian
decision to initiate the battle was mainly due to Miltiades who pressed strongly to attack
the Persians even though the odds were against the Athenians. It has also been
assumed that it was Miltiades’ idea to deploy the Greek phalanx with strong wings and a
weak centre at Marathon. Many historians suggest that Miltiades commanded the
central body of the Athenian forces at Marathon. This is because Miltiades was clearly
recognised as the most able strategoi (army leader) which is a fact supported by
Callimachus’ willingness to accept his advice. Therefore, the important role of Miltiades
and his skilled leadership was another reason that influenced the Greek victory in the
Battle of Marathon.
There were many reasons that influenced Greek victory at the Battle of Marathon. The
victory at Marathon was very significant not only for Athens but for the rest of Greece as
the Persians were considered to be the strongest army at the time. The Athenians
received much honour and glory for their defeat of ‘the barbarian’. The Greek victory
can be asserted to many reasons including the absence of Persian cavalry; the
strategies and tactics used by the Greeks; the Greeks superior weapons and armour;
and the role of Miltiades.