Does your city host an annual marathon? Chances are, it does. The long-distance running event has become firmly entrenched in modern sport.
Today many marathons are run to raise funds for charitable causes, and to spread raise awareness about social issues.
However this sport has a less placid history, with the word itself coming from the site of a fierce battle between the Athenians and Persians. Fought as part of the Greco-Persian Wars which took place between 499 BC and 449 BC, it is thought to have taken place in 490 BC.
How it began
Around this time, the Persian king Darius was angry. Very angry, as legend has it. The cause for his anger? The interference of the Athenians in the Ionian Revolt. The people of Ionia (a part of present day Turkey), rebelled against their Persian rulers, and were assisted in their attempt by the Athenians. The revolt was suppressed, but Darius vowed to get his revenge. The story goes that he even commanded one of his servants to say, “Master, remember the Athenians” three times before his dinner every day.
The battle
On hearing of the approach of the Persian army via the coastal town of Marathon, the Athenians hastily assembled their troops, and put a system of rotating commanders in place, with one commander leading the attack each day. The commanders were in a quandary about whether to attack, or wait for the Persians to strike, and there were equal votes for both courses of action.
The tie as broken by Callimachus, who decided to attack, on a day when the Persian cavalry (soldiers on horseback) was absent.
As the Persians had arrived near Marathon by sea, the Athenians first blocked the two entrances from the sea, to prevent them from moving inland.
Choosing an opportune moment when the infantry (soldiers on foot) was holding fort in the Persian camp, the Athenians led by Miltiades surrounded them from all sides, catching the Persians unawares.
The Persian forces, led by Datis and Artaphernes, attempted to fight back but were overpowered and began to flee towards their ships, but they had already lost over 6000 men.
This battle is significant for a number of reasons, one of them being that this was the first time the Greeks defeated the mighty Persians, showing them that this could be done.
The legend of Marathon
As per legend, he ran from Marathon to Athens, covering a distance of 40 km, to announce the news of the victory, before dying of exhaustion.
However Greek historian Herodotus records a different version of the tale - he was sent from Athens to Sparta before the battle to seek their assistance. He is said to have covered about 240 km in two days.
