One of the world’s most significant battle grounds can be found at Marathon. The Marathon battle marked the victory of the Athenians against the invading Persians in 490 BC.
The 30-foot-high Marathon Tomb was erected over the graves of the 192 Athenians who died in the battle against the- by far larger army- of the Persian forces. At the base of the original gravestone the Soldier of Marathon, a hoplite is depicted.
According to the customs the winners collected their dead soldiers, they cremated them and they had a dinner in order to honour their bravery. Usually those who died in war were returned to their homes, but this collective tomb, was built to honour them.
The excavations revealed the cremated bones and some signs of the dinner.
About 1½ kilometres north of the Marathon Tomb is the smaller burial mound of the Plataians killed in the same battle, as well as the Museum of Marathon.
The museum contains exhibits from the 4th millennium BC as well as sculptures, relics, pottery, graves and inscriptions.
