Battle of Marathon

The Battle of Marathon, fought in 490 BCE, was a pivotal conflict during the Greco-Persian Wars. The Athenian army, greatly outnumbered, confronted Persian forces near the town of Marathon, Greece. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Athenians, led by General Miltiades, executed a surprise attack and won decisively. This victory secured Athens from Persian invasion and boosted Greek morale. Legend states that a messenger named Pheidippides ran approximately 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory, inspiring the modern marathon race. The battle underscored the importance of citizen armies and strategic military planning.