Battle of Marathon

The Battle of Marathon
Part of the Macedonian-Hellenistic War.
Date
308 BC
Location
The village of Marathon
Result
Scythian victory
<TR> Combatants</TR>
<TR>
<TD>Amazons</TD>
<TD>Bithynia</TD>
</TR>
<TR>Commanders</TR>
<TR>
<TD>Otrere Thalestris</TD>
<TD>Ziboetes</TD>
</TR>
<TR>Strength</TR>
<TR>
<TD>400+ cavalry</TD>
<TD>1,800 infantry<BR>300 cavalry</TD>
</TR>
<TR>Casualties</TR>
<TR>
<TD>Unknown but light</TD>
<TD>No more than 1,100 infantry<BR>Unknown cavalry</TD>
</TR>
<TR>Macedonian-Hellenistic War</TR>
<TR>
<TD>Battle of Athens</TD>
<TD>Marathon</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>Attica</TD>
<TD>Siege of Athens</TD>
</TR>
The Battle of Marathon was fought at the same time as the Battle of Athens. It was a small engagement between a group of Scythians led by Otrere Thalestris, and a detachment of the Bithynian army.
==The Battle of Marathon==
===Prelude===
The army of Ziboetes, seeking an alliance with the Greek cities, had landed near the village of Marathon. They sacked the village and set up their base of operations there. Thalestris was dispatched by Cassander to deal with this threat. When Thalestris and her Amazons reached Marathon, 15 warriors infiltrated the camp posing as captives. They covered the camp with oil and other flammable substances.
Ziboetes had places his green troops to the north, guarding the prisoners from the raid of Marathon. Further south, guarding the road to Athens were the more experienced troops led by Proxenos.
===The Battle===
On the eve of the day after the Amazons had arrived, the Amazons struck. It was night and most soldiers were sleeping. This allowed Thalestris to take the Bithynian hoplites completly by surprise. A few fiery arrows was sent into the camp first, to set it ablaze causing further confusion.
Proxanes was killed by an arrow to the throat as he was leading his men. The mounted Amazons were to quick for the surprised and tired hoplites who almost all of them were killed or wounded. The rest were taken prisoner or escaped the battle.
Ziboetes himself was being held at knifepoint by Toxaris during the entire battle, which made him incapable of leading his own men.
===Aftermath===
The battle resulted in the destruction of the Bithynian force and the end of Bithynian involvement in Greek affairs. Ziboetes was taken prisoner by the Amazons but was later released.
Category:Battles