[Date and place of birth unknown. Died B.C. 489.]
An Athenian. Succeeded his father Cimon as “Tyrant” of the Thracian
Chersonesus. He accompanied Darius on his expedition into Scythia. He
was subsequently driven out of the Chersonesus by the Persians, and fled
to Athens, where he resumed his rights as an Athenian citizen. He was
one of the ten generals chosen by the Athenians to resist the Persian
invasion, but by the consent of his colleagues he was invested with sole
command. He defeated the Persians under Datis and Artaphernes, at
Marathon (B. C. 490), and saved Greece. The victory, as well for the
import of its consequences as for the disproportion between the numbers
engaged, is one of the most memorable recorded in history. Afterwards
intrusted with the command of a fleet, with which he attacked the Island
of Paros, to gratify a private enmity. This expedition proving
unsuccessful, Miltiades was impeached, condemned to a fine, and thrown
into prison, where he died of his wounds.
[The hero of Marathon received all portrait honours from the
Athenians. Pliny relates that Panænus, the brother of Phidias, painted
a picture of the battle with portraits of the generals; and the great
sculptor himself made a statue of the conqueror, the cost of which was
appropriately paid out of the spoils of the Persians. It was placed in
the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The bust, No. 25A, is in the Louvre;
it was found on the Celian Hill at Rome. The back part of the helmet
has sculptured upon it the furious bull of Marathon which Theseus
killed, and which Miltiades wears as a trophy of valour. This portrait
has been identified by a bust engraved with the name, described by
Fulvius Ursinus, but which is unfortunately lost.]
25A. MILTIADES. _Athenian General._