Persian Wars · War Crimes & Atrocities
The Persian Wars saw atrocities committed by both sides, though the historical record — written primarily by Greeks — naturally emphasises Persian violence. The destruction of Miletus (494 BC) and the deportation of its people, the burning of Athens (480 BC), and the deliberate razing of Greek sanctuaries were systematic Persian acts of punitive destruction intended to terrorise and warn. The Greeks, for their part, executed Persian heralds (a violation of the laws of war), carried out harsh reprisals on collaborators, and enslaved civilian populations of cities taken by assault. The wars also featured one of history's first uses of biological warfare — a Persian attempt to spread disease among the Greeks.
15,000+
deaths
Victims: Citizens of Miletus — men, women, and children(Thousands killed in the sack; tens of thousands more deported to Mesopotamia)
500+
deaths
Victims: Athenian civilians who had not evacuated; religious sanctuaries(Most Athenians had evacuated; deaths largely among those who refused to leave or could not)
2,000+
deaths
Victims: Citizens of Eretria(Casualties in the siege and sack; the entire surviving population was enslaved and deported)
10+
deaths
Victims: Persian diplomatic heralds(A small number of heralds killed; exact count uncertain)
5,000+
deaths
Victims: Populations of cities that had submitted to Persia (Thebes, Thessalian cities)(Varied by city; executions concentrated on leadership and Persian collaborators)