Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis
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4-11 October 2008 |
This is the story of battles fought two and a half thousand years ago between the great armies of the mighty Persian Empire, and the small citizen forces of the Greek city states.
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In a little over 60 years, the Achmaenid Dynasty, founded by Cyrus the Great, had become the largest Empire the world had known. From their heartland on the Iranian Plateau they had conquered the Medes, the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Phrygians and the Ionians. The Persian Empire stretched from the Dardanelles to modern day Afghanistan. Although autocratic, the Persian Kings were tolerant of the culture and religion of subject states - what they could not tolerate was dissent and disrespect.
In 498 BC the Ionian cities of Western Anatolia rose up in revolt against Darius I. Assistance from the Athenians gave initial successes, even the burning of the regional capital of Sardis. It could not last. The revolt was suppressed and Darius turned his attention to the west. It was preposterous that the great Persian Empire should be defied by a few thousand Greek citizens. The stage was set for a series of battles whose names have resonated throughout history; Marathon, Thermopylae and Salamis.
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We will look at the background to the conflict, the nature of the Hoplite citizen soldiers and the other fighting forces and consider the methods used by each side. We are also introduced to some of the famous names of the time. The Persian Kings Darius and Xerxes. The Athenian Pheidippides, the famous Marathon runner; Leonidas of Sparta and his 300 elite warriors at Thermopylae and Themosticles who persuaded the Athenians to abandon their city and put their trust in the 'wooden walls' of their newly constructed fleet of war galleys.
We also look at the major effect that religion had on the decisions made by the Greeks; the religious festivals that delayed the involvement of Sparta at Marathon and Thermopylae and the power of the Oracle at Delphi whose guidance persuaded the Athenians to adopt a naval strategy in continued defiance of Xerxes' vast armies.
In Athens we will visit the Acropolis and admire the magnificent temples built to replace those burnt down by the Persians.
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Itinerary
| Day 1 |
(Saturday): We begin with Titan's VIP Home Departure Service™ to the airport. Fly London - Athens. Check into our hotel in Athens (2 nights). Dinner in the hotel.
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| Day 2 |
Visit the battlefield of Marathon, where the Greeks defeated on land the first Persian invasion fleet sent by Darius in 490 BC. Picnic lunch. Own dinner arrangements.
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| Day 3 |
To Delphi where we have a full afternoon to visit the temple complex. Dinner and overnight, Delphi.
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| Day 4 |
The battlefield of Thermopylae, where in 480 BC a small force under the Spartan general Leonidas delayed the huge army of Xerxes for three days. Own dinner arrangements. Overnight.
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| Day 5 |
We travel to Piraeus and review the decisive naval battle of Salamis from the spot where Xerxes watched the Greek war galleys destroy his much larger Persian fleet. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Athens. |
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| Day 6 |
A day in Athens with our historian guide to help you get the most from the places you visit. Own dinner arrangements. |
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| Day 7 |
An optional visit to Eleusis and free time to choose from the wide range of museums and historic sites of Athens. Dinner in our hotel. |
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| Day 8 |
Return flight Athens - London. On arrival at the airport in London, Titan staff will greet you and transfer you to the Titan transport for the journey back to your front door. |
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