Greco persian wars

Battle of Plataea, 479 BC. Persian cavalry commander Masistius falls from his horse after it is hit by Athenian archers. He is quickly finished off by the Athenian hoplites. Double click on image to ENLARGE.

Battle between the Greeks and Persians at Abyadh or the 'White Hills'- by Mikel Olazabal

Greco-Persian Wars, series of wars fought by Greek states and Persia from 492 to 449 BCE. Although the Persian empire was at the peak of its strength, the collective defense mounted by the Greeks overcame seemingly impossible odds and even succeeded in liberating Greek city-states on the fringe of Persia itself.

12 September 490BC is the conventionally accepted date for the Battle of Marathon when the Athenians and their Plataean allies defeated the invading Persian forces. This image is taken from CAM 108: Marathon 490 BC and illustrated by Richard Hook. It shows the Athenian Charge reaching the Persian Line.

Achaemenid Persian Army

Xerxes l's Persian army crossing on a Pontoon Bridge over the Helespont (present day Dardanelles) from Asia into Thrace, during the Second Persian Invasion in80 B.C.

A hoplite engages with a Persian cavalryman, in this scene from 'Au temps de la Grèce ancienne (La Vie privée des hommes)', by Louis-Rene Nougier, and Pierre Probst. Art by Pierre Probst

The Greek charge at Plataea

Spartan General Pausanias. Pausanias was a Spartan general of the 5th century BCE, responsible for the Greek victory over Mardonius and the Persians at the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE, and was the leader of the Hellenic League created to resist Persian aggression during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Spartans at Thermopylae- by Nikolay Zubkov

Leonidas leads the 300 Spartans against the Persian army of Xerxes during the battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC. Artwork by Peter Dennis.

'How glorious fall the valiant, sword in hand, in front of battle for their native land!' ~ Spartan poet Tyrtaeus

Achaemenid Persians and Median - Tutorials, references and art help - Wildfire Games Community Forums