Battle of Marathon

Hellenic-Persian Wars  ◊   Phase I   ◊  September 490 BC

Modelling:   370 miniature-figures resin 1/72 scale.

Story:       Persian king Darius I, decided to revenge for the involvement of Athens in the revolution of Ionian cities. A strong fleet of 600 ships anchorage nearby Marathon and disembarked an army of 30,000 soldiers and 1,000 cavalry, led by Datis and Artafernes. Allied army of 10,000 Athenians and 1,000 Plataeans, led by Miltiades, moved fast and met Persian army before completing the preparation for the invasion. Using an innovative variation of phalanx, Athenians took a clear victory with minor losses. On their retreat, Persians headed to defenceless Athens by the sea, however, they observed from the coast Athenian army returning fast and they left. Battle of Marathon was the “finale” of phase I of Hellenic-Persian wars and was very important to city-states, because it was the first time that a Hellenic army won Persian army in open battlefield conditions.