ANSWER.
The Athenians, along with their allies, repelled Xerxes' invasion during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE and the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE. In the Battle of Marathon, the Athenian army, led by Miltiades, defeated the Persian army, which was much larger in number. In the Battle of Salamis, the Athenian navy, led by Themistocles, defeated the Persian navy in a naval battle, which forced Xerxes to retreat from Greece. These victories were significant for the Athenians and marked the beginning of their rise as a dominant power in ancient Greece.