Tom Holland

So the center is given to three of the generals, one of whom is a young general called Themistocles, who will have an important role to play in subsequent Athenian history.

And he is stationed in the weakened center.

Callimachus, the war archon, he commands the right wing.

That's the traditional place that the war archon stands.

And the Plataeans in their leather helmets are stationed on the left.

So they are lined up.

Sacrifice is offered.

The portents are good.

Miltiades then stands where everyone can hear him and he gives the command at them.

And there's a great shimmering of metal as the hoplites lower their helmets.

They heft their shields and they shoulder their spears.

And you can imagine how terrifying this moment must be.

You know, you are a hoplite.

Your head is now encased in metal.

You are effectively cut off.

from all the sounds around you.

The trumpets are braying to signal the start of the advance, but you can barely hear it through the bronze of your helmet.

But what you do have is the kind of this great collective jolting of the Athenian line as your fellows onto your left and to your right start the descent.

And so you have no choice, even...

If you're a coward, you still have to advance.