Unit 3, Lesson 3:The Persian Wars

Battle of Marathon

490 BCE

As a response to Greek involvement in the Ionian Revolt, the new Persian King Darius was determined to subjugate Greece. This photo is Pheidippides, the Greek messenger that run 250 kilometers in 2 days to Athens with news of the victory later becoming the inspiration for this athletic event. According to legend, he died after he delivered this message.

Battle of Thermopylae

480 BCE

To invade Greece again, Persians had to pass a small mountain pass. A Greek traitor showed the Persians a narrow passageway that allowed them to strike the Greek army from the rear. A group of 300 Spartans stayed on the battlefield, fighting to the death and covering their fellow Greeks' retreat. This photo encapsulates the 300 brave soldiers that stayed in the mountain pass that allowed the rest of the Greek army to escape capture or certain death.

Battle of Salamis

480 BCE

Following the success at Thermopylae, the Persian army poured into mainland Greece and wreaked havoc, including burning Athens to the ground. The people and army of Athens, however, had escaped to the island of Salamis. The Persian fleet followed the retreating Greeks to Salamis, where they were ambushed and lost 200 ships. This photo shows the mad confusion that occurred in the sea during this battle.

Delian League

478 BCE

The Greek victory over Persian forces at the Battle of Platea ended the Persian invasion of Greece, but it didn't reduce the Persian armed forces to rubble. An association of about 150 Greek city states banded together under the leadership of Athens to continue fighting Persia. The red areas in this photo shows the alliance between the city states in Greece called the Delian League.