Naval defeat of the Persians

After the battle of Marathon when Xerxes became king that the Persians then went back to fight against Athens. In about 481 B.C Xerxes gathered an army of 150,000 men and a navy of 600 ships. Fortunately the Athenians where ready thanks to Themistocles, who after Marathon convinced them to build a navy. In 481 B.C they had a navy of 200 ships. When the Persians arrived Themistocles understood that the battle would have to be either won or lost at sea. He kept the navy fleet safe in the harbor while the harsh Aegean sea destroyed many of Xerxes boats. When the time for battle finally came it took place off the island of Salamis. The Greek boats where slow and clumsy compared to the Persians . So the Greeks turned the boats into fighting platforms, fighting in hand to hand combat. The Athenians was able to destroy most of the Persian fleet, and the Persians then withdrew their army.

King Leonidas and his 300 warriors

Many people have heard of king Leonidas and his 300 men. King Leonidas' name was latin for "Lions son", or "Lion like". He was also believed to be a descendant of Heracles like most heros are considered to be. On August 480 B.C Leonidas went to Thermopylae with 300 of his personal body guards and was joined by forces from some of the other Greek states. In total to form a army of 4,200 men strong. This army was formed in hope of holding off the Persians at the pass of Thermopylae. During the first couple of days the army lead under Leonidas killed about 20,000 Persians while losing few of their own. Sadly on the third day a traitor by the name of Ephialtes led the Persians though a mountain pass, the Persians then surrounded the Greeks. Before the Persians attacked Leonidas sent away all of the Greek troops except his 300 men, 900 Helots, and 700 Thespians. The Thespians refused to leave Leonidas saying that they wouldn't leave him. Sorrowfully Leonidas died that day, the Spartans protected his body until they were finally defeated.

Persians at Marathon in 490

In September 490 B.C an army of Persians with 600 ships and with about 20,000 solders set foot on Greek soil. The Persians purpose was to defeat the Greeks because they had supported the Ionians who had revolted against the Persian rule. Athens then took 10,000 warriors to defend their country against the Persians. Even though the battle field was in favor to the Persians, a brave general Miltiades convinced the other generals to attack the Persians. They then came up with a wonderful strategy that helped them kill 6,400 Persians while only 192 Greeks were killed. The strategy was to attack the Persian lines at a dead run which worked quiet well. The Persians then fled to their ships and sailed towards the undefended Athens. The Greek solders then marched hurriedly back and arrived just in time to stop the Persians.