Tom Holland

Datis does not want to wait for the Spartans to arrive, but he can't force the road that leads to Athens.

And so his only real option then is to split his forces by loading some of them into transport ships and sending them down the coastline.

And if he's going to do that, then it makes sense to send his cavalry because they can then advance back up the road as fast as possible.

And if the intelligence that has been brought to the Athenians by their spies in the Persian camp is accurate, then this is exactly what is happening.

This Persian holding force has been sent to distract the Athenians while far in the rear, the cavalry are being clandestinely loaded onto the transport ships and starting to sail away down the Attic coast.

So the Athenians will never have a better chance of victory.

The invader's army is divided and the cavalry have temporarily vacated the field.

But this window of opportunity is going to close very fast.

They have to seize their opportunity as soon as they possibly can.

And four of Miltiades' fellow generals are convinced by this, but five are appalled by it.

And I think it's important to emphasize just how terrifying the suggestion that Miltiades is making, that they are being asked to attack the Persians on open ground, which the Athenians have always known is the one place you don't attack the Persians, without archers, without cavalry, simultaneously.

still outnumbered even if the cavalry has gone and just to reiterate no Greek army has ever defeated the Persians in open combat so you can see why there is opposition to Miltiades plan I mean so much hangs in the balance

Yeah, the order is given.

Battle is going to be joined at dawn.

Messengers go throughout the camp.

The Athenians start to wake up and they are told the news that they are going to descend into the plain and there will be a battle for the future of Athens fought that day.

So they get up, they have their breakfast, and then slaves bring them their equipment, a hopla, so their shields, their helmets, their spears.

And hopla is the word that gives us the name for a Greek heavy infantryman, hoplite.

And the bare minimum that these hoplites would have is a helmet, a shield, a spear, a sword.

And