Darius sent emissaries to all the Greek city-states in 491 BC asking for a gift of " earth and water " in token of their submission to him. [24] Having had a demonstration of his power the previous year, the majority of Greek cities duly obliged. In Athens, however, the ambassadors were put on trial and then executed by throwing them in a pit; in Sparta, they were simply thrown down a well. [24] [25] This meant that Sparta was also effectively at war with Persia. [24] Darius thus put together an amphibious task force under Datis and Artaphernes in 490 BC, which attacked Naxos , before receiving the submission of the other Cycladic Islands . The task force then moved on Eretria, which it besieged and destroyed. [26] Finally, it moved to attack Athens, landing at the bay of Marathon , where it was met by a heavily outnumbered Athenian army. At the ensuing Battle of Marathon , the Athenians won a remarkable victory, which resulted in the withdrawal of the Persian a...
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