The Battle of Marathon is a landmark in world history. Through their victory, the Athenian and Plataean hoplites did not merely saved their cities from destruction, but they also destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the Persians and proved the superiority of their armor, weaponry, and tactics. More significantly, they opened the way for the unhindered evolution of Athens into a center of a civilization whose virtues and ideals became foundations of Western civilization. Reveals the causes of the Persian invasion, follows the unknown Marathon runner in his run to announce the victory and relates the captivating myths created by the historical battle that still remain a part of the oral tradition of this epic.