Marathon Nemesis from Persian Marble

In 490 BC, the Persian army brought a huge block of Parian marble to the Battle of Marathon, intending to carve a monument to their expected victory over the Greeks. After the Persians lost, the Athenians captured the stone and used it to create a colossal statue of Nemesis for her sanctuary at Rhamnous, the goddess who cuts down those with too much pride. The defeated army's would-be victory monument instead became a lasting reminder of Persian hubris and Greek revenge.

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