TheBattleofMarathonwasfoughtin490BC,whenthePersiansbecameenervatedbyluxuryandservitude,andtheAthenianswereanimatedbytheirfreedom.Inthisbattle,9,000Atheniansdefeatedtheinvadingarmyof25,000Persians,andpursuedthemtotheirveryships,ofwhichtheytookseven.
OneCynegirus,afterperformingprodigiesofvalourinthefield,endeavouredtopreventaPersiangalleyfromputtingtosea.Hehelditfastwithhisrighthand;whenhisrighthandwascutoff,heseizedthegalleywithhisleft,whichbeingalsocutoff,hefoughttheenemywithhisteethuntilhewaskilled.Anothersoldier,allcoveredwiththebloodoftheenemy,ranthe26milesfromthebattlefieldtoAthenstoannouncethevictory.Aftercryingout,"Rejoice,weareconquerors!"hefelldead.
馬拉松戰役發生於公元前四九○年。當時波斯人在驕奢、勞役之下，頹墮委靡；雅典人則在自由之中，發揚蹈厲。是役雅典以九千人，打敗入侵的二萬五千波斯軍，一直追到波斯船停泊處，奪去七艘。
有個士兵叫西奈吉魯斯，戰場上已見一身是膽，這時力阻一艘波斯戰船逃回海上。他用右手抓緊戰船，右手被砍下之後，改用左手，左手也被砍斷，就用牙齒作戰，終於戰死。還有一個士兵，渾身是敵人鮮血，從戰場跑了二十六英里回到雅典報捷，高喊「慶祝吧，我們戰勝了」之後，倒地死去。
【附注】馬拉松平原位在雅典以東，東臨愛琴海。