what was unusaul about the Athenian response to the landing of the persian army at Marathon

The Athenian response to the landing of the Persian army at Marathon in 490 BCE was marked by a combination of strategic decisions and military tactics that, in hindsight, were somewhat unconventional for the time. The Battle of Marathon is particularly noteworthy for a few reasons:

1. Swift Athenian Action:

• The Athenians, upon learning of the Persian landing, swiftly assembled their army and marched to Marathon. This quick response was crucial in preventing the Persians from gaining a stronger foothold on Athenian territory.

2 Use of Hoplite Phalanx:

• The Athenians deployed a formation known as the hoplite phalanx, a tightly packed formation of heavily armored infantry soldiers (hoplites) with shields and spears. This formation was a hallmark of Greek warfare, but the way the Athenians utilized it at Marathon was significant.

3 Athenian Charge:

• The Athenians, led by the strategos (general) Miltiades, executed an aggressive charge against the Persian forces. This tactic involved breaking away from the traditional hoplite phalanx formation to launch a decisive attack on the weakened center of the Persian line.

4 Successful Flanking Maneuver:

• The Athenians managed to defeat the Persian forces by using a successful flanking maneuver. While the center of the Greek line held a strong defensive position, the weakened Greek wings eventually pushed back the Persian flanks.

5 Persian Retreat:

• The Athenians achieved a decisive victory at Marathon, causing the Persian forces to retreat to their ships. The Greeks managed to repel the invasion, which had initially seemed overwhelming given the numerical advantage of the Persian army.

The Athenian victory at Marathon is considered a pivotal moment in ancient Greek history. It demonstrated that a well-disciplined and strategically innovative Greek force could overcome a larger, seemingly more formidable opponent. The Battle of Marathon also laid the groundwork for later conflicts between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire. The Marathon Run, where a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory, is another famous aspect of this historical event.