Because the Athenians' center was under heavier attack, it moved more slowly than the wings, unintentionally leading their force to envelop the Persian army, which broke and retreated to its ships.
The Athenians waited for the Spartans to join them, but with the fall of Eritrea (ER-ih-TREE-ah), Athens was forced to engage the Persian army before reinforcements could arrive. Because the Athenians' center was under heavier attack, it moved more slowly than the wings, unintentionally leading their force to envelop the Persian army, which broke and retreated to its ships. For ten points, name this 490 BC battle after which, allegedly, an Athenian soldier ran 34 km to announce the victory to Athens.
The Athenians waited for the Spartans to join them, but with the fall of Eritrea (ER-ih-TREE-ah), Athens was forced to engage the Persian army before reinforcements could arrive.
Battle of {Marathon}