490 BC

Event dated 12 September 490 BC

Battle of Marathon

Poet involved

What happened

The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC was a crucial conflict where Athenian and Plataean forces achieved a decisive victory against the first Persian invasion of Greece led by Darius I. This battle is celebrated for its demonstration of the effectiveness of citizen-soldiers and strategic military planning. The victory at Marathon not only boosted Greek morale but also laid the foundation for the eventual rise of Athens as a powerful city-state and a center of culture and democracy.

Literary impact

The Battle of Marathon in 490 BC was celebrated in Greek poetry, particularly in epigrams and odes that emphasized themes of freedom and resistance against tyranny. Poets like Pindar immortalized this heroic victory, reinforcing the cultural significance of valor and civic pride in ancient Greek literature.

Source: Wikipedia

Poets alive in 490 BC

2 poets

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