Description
Book SynopsisThe 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. It proposes exciting and original solutions to all the historical issues surrounding this battle of cosmic importance, fought in 490 BC. Historian Christos Dionysopoulos goes head-to-head with 669 authors and 913 articles and books, emerging triumphant with a detailed study which casts light on the events, discovers unseen aspects and proposes interesting and original solutions to the questions surrounding this historic battle.
The Academy of Athens 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’.
Trade ReviewThe 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).
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION
FOREWORD
THE PERSIAN CAMPAIGN 490 BC
Ι. From Cilicia to the Aegean and Euboea
ΙΙ. Marathon (HDT., VI.102–124)
THE ROUTES
THE FORCES
TIMEFRAME
Ι. The year, month and day of the battle
ΙΙ. The timing of the battle
ΙΙΙ. The duration of the battle
ΙV. The voyage to Phaleron
LOCATION
Ι. General overview
ΙΙ. The demes of Marathon
BEFORE THE BATTLE
Ι. The anchorage and the encampment of the Persians
ΙΙ. The Athenian encampment
ΙΙΙ. The battle positions of the opposing forces
THE MONUMENTS
THE BATTLE
THE STRATEGY OF THE OPPONENTS, THE BATTLE LINES AND THE STAGES OF THE BATTLE
AFTER THE BATTLE
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF VICTORY, THE THREAT TO ATHENS AND THE BURIAL OF THE DEAD
DEDICATIONS TO THE GODS
THE TROPHY HONOURING THE MARATHONOMACHΟI AND OTHER COMMEMORATIONS OF THE VICTORY
THE REASONS FOR THE PERSIAN DEFEAT AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VICTORY
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VICTORY
ABBREVIATIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
Ι. SOURCES
ΙΙ. PEOPLE, PLACES AND TERMS
