I already said on this forum that when I was a rogue youngster, I visited Greece and was hiking on the hill overlooking Eretria. And on the path, among the stones, there were small black painted potsherds, some decorated with palmettes, even one with an ephebe wearing a chlamys, and some other fragments of antiquity, just under my soles. What should I have done? Well... I confess I picked them on the ground and kept them in my pocket. Among these fragments there was this bronze arrowhead: Bronze arrowhead, 15 x 47 mm Typical Persian arrowhead. There were several kinds of arrowheads fired by the Persian bowmen, but this kind is well-attested. The same one has been found in Marathon. there is in the British Museum, London, a display with arrowheads from the Marathon battlefield, these ones: Museum Description: Persian Arrowheads from Marathon Room: 15/Case: 3/Number: GR 1935.0823.35 (L: 48 mm) The one right under my shoes at Eretria is the same as the longest one in the BM display. The hill overlooking Eretria is the location of the ancient acropolis. According to Herodotus, the Greek cities of Ionia had revolted against Persian rule. Athens and Eretria had sent forces to support them, and the Greek coalition took and burnt Sardis in BC 498. The Empire struck back and retook Ionia. King Darius ordered a punitive expedition against Eretria and Athens. The Persian forces attacked in BC 492 and secured control of Thrace and Macedon. In 490 they advanced south and first attacked Eretria. Herodotus VI.101: "The Persians sailed holding their course for Temenos and Choereae and Aegilea, all in Eretrian territory. Landing at these places, they immediately unloaded their horses and made preparation to attack their enemies. The Eretrians had no intention of coming out and fighting; all their care was to guard their walls if they could, since it was the prevailing counsel not to leave the city. The walls were strongly attacked, and for six days many fell on both sides; but on the seventh two Eretrians of repute, Euphorbus son of Alcimachus and Philagrus son of Cineas, betrayed the city to the Persians. They entered the city and plundered and burnt the temples, in revenge for the temples that were burnt at Sardis; moreover, they enslaved the townspeople, according to Darius' command." Following this victory the Persian headed to Athens a few days later, but were defeated in Marathon. Of course I cannot be 100% sure the arrowhead I found on the path is a relic of the siege and storming of Eretria by the Persians in BC 490. Arrowheads of the same kind were still used by the Greeks themselves in the 5th and 4th c. BC., but the only fight recorded in History that took place at Eretria's acropolis is the BC 490 siege. And the identical arrowhead found in Marathon is a decisive clue.
From the actual battle or not, still an impressive piece of history to look at and hold. Thanks for sharing with a nice write up too.
