Marathon 490 BC : the first Persian invasion of Greece

This title follows the campaigns of Marathon, one of the epic stories of the ancient world. When the Ionian Revolt broke out in 499 BC, Athens angered the Persians by sending assistance to the Greeks of Asia. Having crushed the revolt, the Persian king, Darius, decided to punish Athens and landed his forces at Marathon some 26 miles from the city. Nine thousand Athenians and their allies marched to meet him, advancing onto the plain and driving the Persians back to their ships amid heavy fighting. Darius reputedly lost 6400 men to the Greeks 192 in a conclusive Greek victory, and a Greek runner was dispatched to Athens with the news of the victory in what became the first Marathon run.