coast； were overtaken by a large Persian force and defeated with great slaughter。 The Athenians hastened on board their ships and sailed home。
When Darius heard of the burning of Sardis； he burst into a paroxysm of rage。 It was against the obscure strangers who had dared to burn one of his capitals that his wrath was chiefly directed。 〃The Athenians！〃 he exclaimed； 〃who are they？〃 Upon being informed he took his bow； shot an arrow high into the air； saying； 〃Grant me； Jove； to take vengeance upon the Athenians！〃 And he charged one of his attendants to remind him thrice every day at dinner 〃Sire； remember the Athenians。〃 Meantime the insurrection spread to the Greek cities in Cyprus； as well as to those on the Hellespont and the Propontis； and seemed to promise permanent independence to the Asiatic Greeks； but they were no match for the whole power of the Persian empire； which was soon brought against them。 Cyprus was subdued； and siege laid to the cities upon the coast of Asia。 Aristagoras now began to despair； and basely deserted his countrymen； whom he had led into peril。 Collecting a large body of Milesians； he set sail for the Thracian coast； where he was slain under the walls of a town to which he had laid siege。 Soon after his departure； his father… in…law； Histiaeus came down to the coast。 The artful Greek not only succeeded in removing the suspicions which Darius first entertained respecting him； but he persuaded the king to send him into Ionia； in order to assist the Persian generals in suppressing the rebellion。 Artaphernes； however； was not so easily deceived as his master； and plainly accused Histiaeus of treachery when the latter arrived at Sardis。 〃I will tell you how the facts stand〃 said Artaphernes to Histiaeus； 〃it was you who made the shoe； and Aristagoras has put it on。〃 Finding himself unsafe at Sardis； he escaped to the island of Chios； but he was regarded with suspicion by all parties。 At length he obtained eight galleys from Lesbos； with which he sailed towards Byzantium； and carried on piracies as well against the Grecian as the barbarian vessels。 This unprincipled adventurer met with a traitor's death。 Having landed on the coast of Mysia； he was surprised by a Persian force and made prisoner。 Being carried to Sardis； Artaphernes at once caused him to be crucified； and sent his head to Darius； who ordered it to be honourably buried； condemning the ignominious execution of the man who had once saved the life of the Great King。
In the sixth year of the revolt （B。C。 495）； when several Grecian cities had already been taken by the Persians； Artaphernes laid siege to Miletus by sea and by land。 A naval engagement took place at Lade a small island off Miletus； which decided the fate of the war。 The Samians deserted at the commencement of the battle； and the Ionian fleet was completely defeated。 Miletus was soon afterwards taken； and was treated with signal severity。 Most of the males were slain； and the few who escaped the sword were carried with the women and children into captivity （B。C。 494）。 The other Greek cities in Asia and the neighbouring islands were treated with the same cruelty。 The islands of Chios； Lesbos； and Tenedos were swept of their inhabitants； and the Persian fleet sailed up to the Hellespont and Propontis； carrying with it fire and sword。 The Athenian Miltiades only escaped falling into the power of the Persians by a rapid flight to Athens。
The subjugation of Ionia was now complete。 This was the third time that the Asiatic Greeks had been conquered by a foreign power： first by the Lydian Croesus； secondly by the generals of Cyrus； and lastly by those of Darius。 It was from the last that they suffered most； and they never fully recovered their former prosperity。
Darius was now at liberty to take vengeance upon the Athenians。 He appointed Mardonius to succeed Artaphernes as satrap in western Asia； and he placed under his command a large armament； with injunctions to bring to Susa those Athenians and Eretrians who had insulted the authority of the Great King。 Mardonius； after crossing the Hellespont； commenced his march through Thrace and Macedonia； subduing； as he went along； the tribes which had not yet submitted to the Persian power。 He ordered the fleet to double the promontory of Mount Athos； and join the land forces at the head of the gulf of Therma； but one of the hurricanes which frequently blow off this dangerous coast overtook the Persian fleet； destroyed 300 vessels and drowned or dashed upon the rocks 20；000 men。 Meantime the land forces of Mardonius had suffered so much from an attack made upon them by a Thracian tribe； that he could not proceed farther。 He led his army back across the Hellespont； and returned to the Persian court covered with shame and grief （B。C。 492）。
The failure of this expedition did not shake the resolution of Darius。 He began to make preparations for another attempt on a still larger scale； and meantime sent heralds to most of the Grecian states to demand from each earth and water as the symbol of submission。 Such terror had the Persians inspired by their recent conquest of Ionia； that a large number of the Grecian cities at once complied with the demand； but the Athenians cast the herald into a deep pit； and the Spartans threw him into a well bidding him take earth and water from thence。
In the spring of B。C。 490 a large army and fleet were assembled in Cilicia； and the command was given to Datis； a Median； and Artaphernes； son of the satrap of Sardis of that name。 Warned by the recent disaster of Mardonius in doubling the promontory of Mount Athos； they resolved to sail straight across the AEgean to Euboea； subduing on their way the Cyclades。 These islands yielded a ready submission； and it was not till Datis and Artaphernes reached Euboea that they encountered any resistance。 Eretria defended itself gallantly for six days； and repulsed the Persians with loss； but on the seventh the gates were opened to the besiegers by the treachery of two of its leading citizens。 The city was razed to the ground； and the inhabitants were put in chains。 From Eretria the Persians crossed over to Attica； and landed on the ever memorable plain of Marathon； a spot which had been pointed out to them by the despot Hippias； who accompanied the army。
As soon as the news of the fall of Eretria reached Athens； a courier had been sent to Sparta to solicit assistance。 This was promised； but the superstition of the Spartans prevented them from setting out immediately； since it wanted a few days to the full moon； and it was contrary to their religious customs to commence a march during this interval。 Meantime the Athenians had marched to Marathon； and were encamped upon the mountains which surrounded the plain。 They were commanded； according to the regular custom； by ten generals； one for each tribe； and by the Polemarch； or third Archon； who down to this time continued to be a colleague of the generals。 Among these the most distinguished was Miltiades； who； though but lately a tyrant in the Chersonesus； had shown such energy and ability； that the Athenians had elected him one of their commanders upon the approach of the Persian fleet。 Upon learning the answer which the courier brought from Sparta； the ten generals were divided in opinion。 Five of them were opposed to an immediate engagement with the overwhelming number of Persians； and urged the importance of waiting for the arrival of the Lacedaemonian succours。 Miltiades and the remaining four contended that not a moment should be lost in fighting the Persians； not only in order to avail themselves of the present enthusiasm of the people； but still more to prevent treachery from spreading among their ranks。 Callimachus； the Polemarch； yielded to the arguments of Miltiades； and gave his vote for the battle。 The ten generals commanded their army in rotation； each for one day； but they now agreed to surrender to Miltiades their days of command； in order to invest the whole power in a single person。 While the Athenians were preparing for battle； they received unexpected assistance from the little town or Plataea； in Boeotia。 Grateful to the Athenians for the assistance which they had rendered them against the Thebans； the whole force of Plataea； amounting to 1000 heavy…armed men； marched to the assistance of their allies and joined them at Marathon。 The Athenian army numbered only 10；000 hoplites； or heavy…armed soldiers： there were no archers or cavalry； and only some slaves as light…armed attendants。 Of the number of the Persian army we have no trustworthy account； but the lowest estimate makes it consist of 110；000 men。
The plain of Marathon lies on the eastern coast of Attica； at the distance of twenty…two miles from Athens by the shortest road。 it is in the form of a crescent； the horns of which consist of two promontories running into the sea； and forming a semicircular bay。 This plain is about six miles in length； and in its widest or central part about two in breadth。 On the day of battle the Persian army was drawn up along the plain about a mile from the sea； and their fleet was ranged behind them on the beach。 The Athenians occupied the rising ground above the