Page "Battle of Marathon" Paragraph 32

The Persian strategy, on the other hand, was probably principally determined by tactical considerations.

The Persian infantry was evidently lightly armoured, and no match for hoplites in a head-on confrontation ( as would be demonstrated at the later battles of Thermopylae and Plataea.

) Since the Athenians seem to have taken up a strong defensive position at Marathon, the Persian hesitance was probably a reluctance to attack the Athenians head-on.