Robert Graves' 'The Persian Version'

Robert Graves (1895-1985) The ‘Greek Version’, which is the ‘historical version’ is that in 490 BCE, the citizens of Athens and some allies defeated a numerically superior Persian army at Marathon. In doing so they stopped the first Persian attempt to conquer Greece. Marathon became a symbol of small nations fighting for freedom against overwhelming odds. Graves was having fun imagining the Persian Version of events. It may not be funny in a world where armies can advance towards the rear, where an American president can talk about ‘a down draw’ in Iraq, or where our political leaders think their version or events is superior to any other, regardless of any inconvenient facts that might prove they are wrong.