The Heros of the Battle of Marathon (Rochegrosse) Stone Coaster

This design features a painting by the French artist Georges Rochegrosse (1859–1938). It is an action scene from the Battle of Marathon, which took place in 490 BC during the first Persian invasion of Greece. The battle was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea, and a Persian force that was commanded by Datis and Artaphernes. The main Greek leaders were Miltiades, Callimachus, Aristides the Just, Xanthippus, Themistocles, Stesilaos, Arimnestos and Cynaegirus. The battle was the climax of the first attempt by Persia, under King Darius I, to conquer Greece. However, the Greek army managed to inflict a crushing defeat on the more numerous Persians, making the battle a significant turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. This painting shows the Greek warriors rushing into battle with great aggression. It was first painted in 1911.