The Isles of Greece - Stanza 3

The mountains look on Marathon*—
And Marathon looks on the sea;
And musing there an hour alone,
I dream'd that Greece might still be free;
For standing on the Persians' grave*,
I could not deem myself a slave.


* Marathon: The small town and area of Marathon is located about thirty minutes away from the northern city borders of modern day Athens. It is a significant location due
to the battle of Marathon, where the outnumbered Athenians cleverly defeated the invading Persian army. Also, it is the starting point of the original Marathon race, which follows the path believed to be run by the messenger of the Athenian army to declare the victory over the Persians to the rest of the city.

* Persians' grave: In Marathon lies the tomb of the Athenians lost in this battle which he refers to as The Persians' grave because it was the Persians who killed them. Lord Byron is referring to the battle of Marathon where Miltiadis, the Athenian general, managed to surround the Persians and save Athens from invasion. Byron cannot deem himself a slave as he stands here, no one can, he feels protected by its history. And he shows a flicker of hope, that maybe there was a chance that Greece may regain its freedom.