Long ago, in 490 BCE, the Athenian Greeks battled the Persians. One such battle is reported to have occurred on September 11 or 12 of 490 BCE. It has become known to us as the Battle of Marathon.
You see, the Greeks were bristling under Persian rule. Having just created (loosely) city-state allegiances, they dared to battle the Persians at Marathon - approximately 26 miles north of Athens. The surprisingly small Greek army beat the vast number of Persians by using a new military technique. The Greek hoplite warriors were ordered to form a line that was as long as the Persian army was. As this source says, "In the ensuing melee, the middle of the Greek line weakened and gave way, but the flanks were able to engulf and slaughter the trapped Persians."
 |
| Pheidippides running |
The battle ended with many more dead Persians than Greeks. The Persians thought that they could attack the "unprotected" fortress of Athens, so they retreated to their ships and set sail for an unannounced attack. The Greek messenger Pheidippides ran the 26 or so miles from Marathon back to Athens to prepare the city for the Persian counter-attack. It is reported that he died immediately after the message was relayed. (And I think I would too after running 26 miles after I had fought in a battle!)
The origin of the modern marathon (at 26.2 miles) is said to be traced to the Robert Browning poem Pheidippides, written in 1890.
Unforeseeing one! Yes, he fought on the Marathon day:
So, when Persia was dust, all cried "To Akropolis!
Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due!
'Athens is saved, thank Pan,' go shout!" He flung down his shield,
Ran like fire once more: and the space 'twixt the Fennel-field
And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through,
Till in he broke: "Rejoice, we conquer!" Like wine through clay,
Joy in his blood bursting his heart, he died—the bliss!
So, when Persia was dust, all cried "To Akropolis!
Run, Pheidippides, one race more! the meed is thy due!
'Athens is saved, thank Pan,' go shout!" He flung down his shield,
Ran like fire once more: and the space 'twixt the Fennel-field
And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through,
Till in he broke: "Rejoice, we conquer!" Like wine through clay,
Joy in his blood bursting his heart, he died—the bliss!
There are a couple of general articles and much commentary and discussion online about the Battle of Marathon. I'll list a few of the sources here:
- http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/marathon.htm
- http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/persianwararticles/a/MarathonBattle.htm
- http://oz.deichman.net/2007/09/marathon-anniversary.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_marathon
- http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Pheidippides
