Each of these tribes nominated a general; there were therefore ten leaders to the Athenian army.

Among them was Miltiades, who had succeeded in ingratiating himself with the Athenian people, and obtained from their suffrages a command.

[277] Aided by a thousand men from Plataea, then on terms of intimate friendship with the Athenians, the little army marched from the city, and advanced to the entrance of the plain of Marathon.

Here they arrayed themselves in martial order, near the temple of Hercules, to the east of the hills that guard the upper part of the valley.

Thus encamped, and in sight of the gigantic power of the enemy, darkening the long expanse that skirts the sea, divisions broke out among the leaders;--some contended that a battle was by no means to be risked with such inferior forces--others, on the contrary, were for giving immediate battle.