The Nike of Callimachus is a monument erected by the Athenians in honor of Callimachus, the senior military commander at the Battle of Marathon (490 BCE). On the eve of the battle, the other ten generals were split evenly on whether to fight the Persians, so Callimachus cast the decisive vote in favor of the battle. He is said to have promised to sacrifice to the goddess Artemis as many goats as the number of Persians killed in battle. The Athenians compromised by offering 500 animals annually because it was difficult to find 6,400 goats for a single sacrifice. Callimachus fought bravely and died pierced with so many spears that his body remained in an upright position. The monument is almost five meters tall (16 ft); it is an inscribed marble column topped by a sculpted figure of Nike (Victory).