CHRISTOS DIONYSOPOULOS Classicist, Historian, Archaeologist. Born in Athens, he studied Classical Philology, History and Archaeology at the University of Athens, Egyptology at the University of Cairo, and Epigraphy, Papyrology and Numismatics at the University of Liége. He has worked as an archaeologist on excavations, as a teacher and head teacher at secondary schools in Greece and abroad, was a research associate of the Academy of Athens and Education Advisor for the Humanities. He also contributed to the effort to prevent the construction of a rowing lake in the battleground of Marathon.

The Academy of Athens has awarded a prize for this study, judging it 'to constitute the fullest, most comprehensive and most scholarly approach to the Battle of Marathon and that the author, with his talent for analysis and synthesis, has contributed an archaeological and historical monograph of great significance for the subject of the battle which will underpin scholarship for many years to come' (Academy of Athens Award, December 2014).

• INTRODUCTIONFOREWORDTHE PERSIAN CAMPAIGN 490 BCΙ. From Cilicia to the Aegean and EuboeaΙΙ. Marathon (HDT., VI.102–124)THE ROUTESTHE FORCESTIMEFRAMEΙ. The year, month and day of the battleΙΙ. The timing of the battle  ΙΙΙ. The duration of the battleΙV. The voyage to Phaleron  LOCATIONΙ. General overviewΙΙ. The demes of MarathonBEFORE THE BATTLEΙ. The anchorage and the encampment of the PersiansΙΙ. The Athenian encampmentΙΙΙ. The battle positions of the opposing forcesTHE MONUMENTSTHE BATTLETHE STRATEGY OF THE OPPONENTS, THE BATTLE LINES AND THE STAGES OF THE BATTLEAFTER THE BATTLETHE ANNOUNCEMENT OF VICTORY, THE THREAT TO ATHENS AND THE BURIAL OF THE DEADDEDICATIONS TO THE GODSTHE TROPHY HONOURING THE MARATHONOMACHΟI AND OTHER COMMEMORATIONS OF THE VICTORYTHE REASONS FOR THE PERSIAN DEFEAT AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VICTORYTHE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VICTORYABBREVIATIONSBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEXΙ. SOURCESΙΙ. PEOPLE, PLACES AND TERMS