Definition

Proper noun: * A decisive land battle fought in 479 BC near the town of Plataea in Boeotia, Greece. It marked the final defeat of the invading Persian army by an alliance of Greek city-states, effectively ending the Persian Wars' second major invasion and securing Greek independence.

Usage

• The term is used as a singular, proper noun to refer to this specific historical event. It is typically preceded by the definite article "the."
• It is used in historical, academic, and general contexts to discuss ancient warfare, Greek history, or the Greco-Persian conflicts.

Examples

• As a subject: "The Battle of Plataea was the culminating engagement of the Greco-Persian Wars."
• In a prepositional phrase: "The Persian commander Mardonius was killed during the Battle of Plataea."
• For historical significance: "After the Battle of Plataea, Persian forces withdrew from mainland Greece."

Advanced Usage

• The battle is often cited alongside the concurrent naval Battle of Mycale, which liberated Ionian Greek cities. Together, they are considered the twin victories that ended the Persian invasion.
• In military history, it is studied as a classic example of how Greek hoplite infantry superiority and discipline could overcome larger, more diverse armies.

Variants and Related Words

• Plataea: The name of the ancient town where the battle was fought.
• Greco-Persian Wars / Persian Wars: The broader series of conflicts which included the Battle of Plataea.
• Pausanias: The Spartan regent and commander of the Greek allied forces at Plataea.

Synonyms

• There are no direct synonyms for this proper noun referring to a unique historical event. It can be described peripherally as:
  • The final land battle of the Persian invasion of 480-479 BC.
  • The Greek victory at Plataea.

Related Phrases and Contexts

• "The Greek victory at Plataea": A common descriptive phrase for the event.
• "In the aftermath of Plataea": Used to describe the period following the battle.
• It is frequently mentioned in conjunction with the Battle of Salamis (480 BC, naval) and the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC, land), as the three most famous battles of the second Persian invasion.

Noun

1. a defeat of the Persian army by the Greeks at Plataea in 479 BC