The Battlefield of Marathon: the Tropaion, Herodotos, and E. Curtius

P. Fromherz

Abstract

A novel reconstruction of the battle of Marathon is presented with an interpretation of Herodotos’ account that relies on a critical investigation of the terrain and the monuments (Athenian grave, Herakleion, tropaion) that are commonly used as topographic markers. The tropaion is identified as a sole clue of the battlefield, which was near the border of the great marsh in 490 BC, marking the turning point of the battle. With that point of reference, Herodotos’ account implies that the armies were arrayed in the central portion of the plain with the Athenians along the Stavrokoraki mountain (near the Marathona valley) and the Persians across the plain at a distance of eight stadia (near the Schoinia). It is argued that Herodotos’ remarks about the campaign refer to an almost simultaneous arrival of both armies at Marathon the Athenians approaching through the Marathona valley and the Persians landing at the Schoinia. The Athenian attack after several days of a phoney war with the proposed position of the two arrays supports the idea of Curtius that the battle was initiated by a Persian embarkment towards Phaleron. Finally, as a consequence of the reconstruction, a novel site is proposed for Herakleion near the Marathona valley.