The Athenians and the Spartans

Herodotus reports that Phidipides arrived on the 9th. Plato, though, mentions difficulties caused by a war with the Messenians which prevented Sparta from sending immediate assistance. The Spartans were deeply religious, and weren't cowards in war so their explanation may have been sincere. Some favored bringing everybody up onto the Acropolis and defending the city until the Spartan reinforcements arrived after the war. Others urged a preemptive strike to meet the Persians in a pitched battle. Miltiades emerged as a leading figure here, since he was the resident Persian expert,. He argued that they should engage the Persian in battle, in order to save the majority of Athenians