How did the Greeks respond to Darius demand for gifts of earth?

The Greeks, particularly the Athenians and Spartans, responded to Darius's demand for "earth and water"—symbols of submission—by rejecting his request. They viewed this demand as an affront to their freedom and autonomy, leading to defiance rather than submission. The Athenians famously threw the messenger who delivered the demand into a pit, while the Spartans allegedly responded with a message that they would give Darius earth and water "when the sun rises in the west." This marked the beginning of escalating tensions that ultimately contributed to the Greco-Persian Wars.