Introductory American History | Page 6

to hand fighting. Their principal weapon was the bow
and arrow, while the Greeks used the lance and a short sword. The
Greek soldier was protected by his bronze helmet, solid across the
forehead and over the nose; by his breastplate, a leathern or linen tunic
covered with small metal scales, with flaps hanging below his hips; and
by greaves or pieces of metal in front of his knees and shins. He was
also protected by a shield, often long enough to reach from his face to
his knees. According to a strange custom the Athenians were led by ten
generals, each commanding one day in turn.
THE BATTLE-GROUND. Marathon was a plain about two miles wide,
lying between the mountains and the sea. From it two roads ran toward
Athens, one along the shore where the hills almost reached the sea, the
other up a narrow valley and over the mountains. The Athenians were
encamped in this valley, where they could attack the Persians if they
tried to follow the shore road.

The Persians landed from their ships and filled the plain near the shore.
They wanted to fight in the open plain because they had so many more
soldiers than the Athenians and because they meant to use their
horsemen. For some time the Athenians watched the Persians, not
knowing what it was best to do. Half the generals did not wish to risk a
battle, but Miltiades was eager to fight, for he feared that delay would
lead timid citizens or traitors to yield to the Persians. He finally gained
his wish, and on his day of command the battle was ordered.
THE BATTLE. The Persians by this time had decided to sail around to
the harbor of Athens and had taken their horsemen on board their ships.
When they saw the Greeks coming they drew up their foot-soldiers in
deep masses. The Athenians and their comrades--the Plataeans--soon
began to move forward on the run. The Persians thought this madness,
because the Greeks had no archers or horsemen. But the Greeks saw
that if they moved forward slowly the Persians would have time to
shoot arrows at them again and again.
When the Greeks rushed upon the Persians the soldiers at the two ends
of the Persian line gave way and fled towards the shore. In the center,
where the best Persian soldiers stood, the Greeks were not at first
successful, and were forced to retreat. But those who had been
victorious came to their rescue, attacked the Persians in the rear, and
finally drove them off. The Persians ran into the sea to reach the ships,
and the Athenians followed them. Some of the Greeks were so eager in
the fight that they seized the sides of the ships and tried to keep them
from being rowed away, but the Persians cut at their hands and made
them let go.
[Illustration: THE STRAITS OF SALAMIS Where a great sea-fight
between Greeks and Persians took place]
THE NEWS OF THE VICTORY. The Athenians had won a victory of
which they were so proud that they meant it never should be forgotten.
Their city had suddenly become great through the courage and
self-sacrifice of her citizens. One hundred and ninety-two Greeks had
fallen, and on the battle-field their comrades raised over their bodies a
mound of earth which still marks their tomb. The victors sent the

runner Pheidippides to bear the news to Athens. Over the hills he ran
until he reached the market place, and there, with the message of
triumph on his lips, he fell dead.
OTHER VICTORIES OF THE GREEKS. Marathon was only the
beginning of Greek victories over the Persians, only the first struggle in
the long wars between Europe and Asia. Ten years after Marathon the
Spartans won everlasting glory by their heroic stand at the Pass of
Thermopylae --three hundred Greeks against the mighty army of the
Persian king Xerxes. The barbarian hordes passed over their bodies,
took the road to Athens, burned the city, but were soon beaten in the
sea-fight which took place on the waters lying between the mainland of
Athenian territory and the island of Salamis. This victory was also due
to Athenian courage and leadership, for the Athenians and their leader,
Themistocles, were resolved to stay and fight, although the other
Greeks wanted to sail away.
WHY MARATHON IS REMEMBERED. The victories of Marathon
and Salamis were great not only because small armies of Greeks put to
flight the hosts of Persia, they were great because they saved the
independence of Greece. If the Greeks had become the subjects and
slaves of Persia, they would not have built the wonderful buildings, or
carved the beautiful statues, or written the books which we study and
admire. When we think of