Distributed by University of Exeter Press. The scholarly interest in the Battle of Marathon remains undiminished. This book presents all the ancient sources and all the scientific theories concerning the battle of Marathon. It provides a full bibliography (from the 17th century to the present day), richly illustrated with old maps, and proposes interesting and original solutions to all the problems surrounding this historic battle of cosmic importance, fought in 490 BC. Researchers’ interest in Marathon remains undiminished. From the seventeenth century to the present day, numerous distinguished scholars have been involved with the problems this important chapter in the history of mankind presents and have proposed solutions to them. But these proposals are frequently contradictory, because the ancient texts on which they are based leave a wide leeway for theorizing and speculation. Herodotus, who is the principal and most reliable source for research, gives a summary picture of the events and is reticent on certain fundamental details concerning the Battle of Marathon. In order to fill the gaps and shortcomings of the Herodotan narrative, scholars have relied on secondary sources. However, instead of these being used supplementarily, they have led some to arbitrary conclusions and transformed them into creators of imaginary scenarios, since their theories are in complete opposition to the primary source as well as, sometimes, to common sense. In Herodotus, as in the other sources too, there are some words or phrases that, through erroneous evaluation, may lead us astray, and others that, on first glance, tell us nothing. However, on careful scrutiny we ascertain that their silence is apparent and that they conceal within them truths which are revealed to us, in some cases indeed in stentorian voice. In this book the author exposits the various theories that have been formulated, he studies the difficulties the issues present and proposes his own view, having as guideline, as far as the textual testimonies are concerned, mainly. He evaluates and utilizes the secondary sources according to their credibility, to the degree that they are consistent with the Herodotan narrative and do not come into conflict with this. The Academy of Athens has awarded a prize for this study, judging it ‘to constitute the fullest, most comprehensive and most scholarly approach to the Battle of Marathon and that the author, with his talent for analysis and synthesis, has contributed an archaeological and historical monograph of great significance for the subject of the battle which will underpin scholarship for many years to come’ (Academy of Athens Award, December 2014). The historian and philologist Christos Dionysopoulos goes head-to-head with 669 authors and 913 articles and books, emerging triumphant not only from the field of battle, but also the field of research, with a detailed study, which casts light on the events, discovers unseen aspects and answers questions which had remained unanswered until today. At what hour did the battle of Marathon take place? How many Athenians and how many Persians took part? How long did the battle last? Did slaves fight alongside the Athenians and how many of them were there? What were the losses on each side? How many messengers were there who brought the news of victory to the city?
There are many theories about the battle of Marathon, but the principal source is Herodotus, who left many gaps in his account, which scholars have from time to time filled with their fantasies. In the present study I evaluated and compared all the sources with the result that uncertainty was banished and concrete conclusions achieved, stressed the scholar-‘detective’ who has been elected a Research Associate of the Academy of Athens amongst other honours. He has shed light into every corner of his study from the site of the battle and the strategy of the opponents to the burial of the dead and the dedications celebrating victory. The Athenians charged at the enemy when the Persian horses were in their stables, that is to say, in the afternoon. They chose that time so that they would not have to face the cavalry as well. They were the first to use the tactic of charging at the run in the last 200m before they clashed hand to hand with the enemy to reduce the effectiveness of the Persian archers. The ingenious battle tactics of Miltiades involved strengthening the two wings, in comparison to the weak centre, so that at the right moment they could surround the enemy. Greek language text. 120 colour ilustrations.
