The Persians did not flee to their ships. They were embarking their cavalry to be shipped around to Athens to capture the city while the Athenian army was at Marathon - traitors were to open the gates of the city for them.
When the Athenian and allied Plataean armies, which were awaiting the arrival of reinforcements from Sparta and lurking in the hills where the Persian cavalry couldn't get at them, saw the cavalry being embarked, they ran down and defeated the inferior Persian infantry, now unprotected by its cavalry. The embarked Persian cavalry went off around the coast to Athens.
Having defeated the Persian infantry, the Athenians realised where the cavalry was headed, and all 18,000 ran back the 26 miles over the hills to Athens, arriving just in time to form up in front of the city as the Persian cavalry was being disembarked. The cavalry, frustrated, went home.
So it was the whole Athenian army which ran the first 'marathon', giving rise to today's marathon races. The difference is that, unlike our pampered athletes of today, they ran carrying shields, armour and weapons, in sandals. But then, they had the incentive of saving their families and homes.
At the battle of Marathon 490 BCE the Athenians defeated the Persians.
The Athenians and their Platian allies defeated the Persians punitive expedition sent against them in a land battle on the Plain of Marathon.
Greeks versus Persians .
Athenians
Spartans did not fight at the Battle of Marathon. The fight was solely between the Persians, and the Athenians and Plataeans.
At the battle of Marathon 490 BCE the Athenians defeated the Persians.
The battle of Marathon ended very shortly after it began when Persians tried to flee by retreating to ships and swimming in swamps. I believe it was less than 3 hours because it started in midday and ended when the sun was still shining in the sky. I'm no history expert, just trying to help.......
It was the army of Athens and its ally Plataia. They waited until the Persians were loading their cavalry on ships and attacked the inferior Persian infantry left without their cavalry support.
The Athenian army saw an opportunity when the Persians sent their cavalry to embark on ships, and rushed down to engage the inferior Persian infantry.
Marathon was fought to keep the Persians from invading Athens.
They met them in battle a number of times such as Thermopylae and Marathon, but they also gave money, weapons, and men to some Greek states that were opposing the Persians on the other side of the Aegean.
disppointed
The Athenians and their Platian allies defeated the Persians punitive expedition sent against them in a land battle on the Plain of Marathon.
Marathon
marathon?
At Marathon 490 BCE.
About 25,000.