Miltiades

Statue of General Miltiades,handmade of alabaster and metal-coated ,by Veronese Design.

Miltiades ( 550 – 489 BC), also known as Miltiades the Younger, was a Greek Athenian citizen.  Known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon, as well as for his downfall afterwards. He was the son of Cimon Coalemos, a renowned Olympic chariot-racer, and the father of Cimon, the noted Athenian statesman.

The Battle of Marathon

Miltiades is often credited with devising the tactics that defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.  Miltiades was elected to serve as one of the ten generals (strategoi) for 490 BC. In addition to the ten generals, there was one ‘war-ruler’ (polemarch), Callimachus.  Who had to decide—with the ten generals evenly split, five to five—whether to attack the Persians who had landed at Marathon under the command of Datis, or wait to fight them closer to Athens.

Miltiades, the one with the most experience in fighting the Persians. He was firm in insisting that the Persians be fought immediately, as a siege of Athens would lead to its destruction. He convinced Callimachus to use his decisive vote in favor of a swift attack.  He is quoted as saying “I believe that, provided the Gods will give fair play and no favour, we are able to get the best of it in the engagement.”

The Tactics

Miltiades also convinced the other generals of the necessity of not using the customary tactics .  These of using hoplites arrayed in an evenly distributed phalanx armed with shields and spears.  Tactics otherwise not deviated from for 100 years, until the time of Epaminondas.   Miltiades feared the cavalry of the Persians attacking the flanks, and asked for more hoplites to be stationed there than in the centre.  He ordered the two tribes in the centre, the Leontis tribe led by Themistocles.  And the Antiochis tribe led by Aristides, to be arrayed to a depth of four ranks.  While the rest of the tribes, on their flanks, were arrayed in eight ranks.  Miltiades also had his men march to the end of the Persian archer range, called the “beaten zone”, then break out in a run straight at the Persian army.

These tactics were successful in defeating the Persians, who then tried to sail around the Cape Sounion.  And attack Attica-Athens from the west. Miltiades got his men to quickly march to the western side of Attica overnight and block the two exits from the plain of Marathon, to prevent the Persians moving inland. Datis fled at the sight of the soldiers who had just defeated him the previous evening.

Quality: .Made of cast copper resin, which allows greater detail and a nice weight. All Veronese figurines are beautifully packaged, have great detail and are great collectible gifts.