Plot

A brilliant defensive strategy based on knowledge of the terrain, tough troops and a history-making runner are all elements of an outmatched Athenian army's victory over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.

The mighty Persian empire under Darius I is ready to avenge past wrongs done to it by the tiny city state of Athens. Darius sends an overwhelming force commanded by Datis to destroy Athens. But, the former Persian conscript, Miltiades, persuades the Atenians to do battle with the Persians, resists the Persiann onslaught and forces them to return home with yet another insult from Athens.—David Foss