Even more importantly, we are reminded that this year, 2010, is the 2500th anniversary of that battle and the first ever ‘Marathon’. History records that in 490 B.C., the soldier Pheidippides, covered the distance from a battlefield near Marathon, Greece, to Athens in order to bring the news of a Greek victory over the Persians. The history of the marathon begins many years ago in Athens. The idea of the “marathon” comes from the mythical run of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens. The first Olympic marathon was held on April 10, 1896, and its winner was Spyridon Louis, a Greek runner who ran from the Marathon plain to the Olympic stadium in Athens in 2:58:50. Something that seems unlikely and that puts into question the legend of the origin of the Marathon as we know it. When the first modern Olympics was held in Athens in 1896, it was suggested to the President of the games, Pierre de Coubertin, that the ‘Marathon’ would make a good Olympic event. Categorized in: About Agistri, Greece, About Marathon, Greece, Greek Travel Guide, on The Legend of the Original Greek Marathon, Outdoor Sports to Enjoy in Kassandra, Greece. But what about the Marathon run itself? In the 1970s, the Olympic marathon had come a long way from the dusty roads of Athens. Arguably one of the most famous in the world is held right here in Boston. For more information about the Boston Marathon, please visit here. • But many other athletes had not prepared properly and some collapsed on the track. • Lina Radke, from Germany, set a world record in this distance Apparently, there are sources which claim that Filipides himself ran an even higher distance shortly before. Print the story. One final legend of Marathon and one which has carried its name up to the present day is Herodotus’ account of a long-distance messenger (hēmerodromos) named Phidippides. The story goes that a single soldier Pheidippides ran back from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens (a distance of about 42 km – the current marathon distance) to announce the Athenian victory before dropping dead. The origin of the marathon and the Olympic Games, In fact, before the 1980s, there were no women’s distance races in the Olympic Games. The following year, number 261 in the Boston marathon was assigned to participant K.V. Ancient Greek healthcare: as contentious as today? In 1924, the course was lengthened to 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to the Olympic standard, and the starting line was moved west from Ashland to Hopkinton. So, for the race to start at Windsor Castle and finish at the Olympic Stadium, the organizers had to widen the distance to the strangers 42,195 meters today. Had the Greeks lost the Western World, as we know it could have been conquered by Persia and how different our modern world would be! The marathon is part of the athletics program in the Olympic Games since Athens 1896, in the men’s category, and from Los Angeles 1984, in the female category. Our best wishes for a productive day. The Boston Marathon attracts 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England’s most widely viewed sporting event. Or is it? All Rights Reserved. According to this legend, Filippides was a Greek messenger. Print an activity for the story. Actually, there was. To be sure, it was an Athenian victory that was celebrated time and time again in ancient Greece and became part of Athens’ civic identity. Women were completely excluded from athletics competitions until 1928. The new race was called "the marathon" and was included as the final event on the Olympic agenda. You have successfully linked your account! His mission was to go from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of his army against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon (490 BC). Feel the magic of Christmas in Lapland with Santa Claus, What to see in Moscow. Although the legend is very beautiful, there are some debates about the accuracy of these events. So marathon runners everywhere – just be thankful the modern Marathon doesn’t cover the distance Pheidippides may originally have run and good luck! However, women were still not allowed to compete and the struggle to establish a women’s Olympic marathon was itself a kind of long-distance race. The problem is that it’s very hard to find any trace of the Pheidippides story in the contemporary ancient sources. Reprinted from Neos Kosmos www.neoskosmos.com. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with the extra miles added on so the race could finish in front of royal family’s viewing box. Here in Britain, London is limbering up for its big marathon race on April 25th. Neither more nor less than 240 km between Athens and Sparta. Top 5 Valentine’s day destinations for 2019, Tales of mysterious places you can really visit, The best natural parks in Canada where you can disconnect, The origin of the marathon: between myth, legend, and reality. Career director Will Cloney and officer Jock Semple tried to grab Switzer and pull her out of the race, or at least eliminate her number, but her teammates defended her with body blocks. Italy and Greece are the cradles and the origin of many of the elements that make up Western culture. And Athens was stubble again, a field which a fire runs through, Speak to us! Everything you ever wanted to know about... 7 famous Victorians: from Brontë to Brunel, Catherine of Aragon: Henry’s greatest queen. Michael Bréal, a friend of modern Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin, was inspired by the legend of the Battle of Marathon to create an endurance race. Is the legend about the origin of the Marathon accurate? In 1966, Roberta Gibb hid behind a bush at the start of the Boston Marathon, furtively entered the field and finished the race at an unofficial time of 3:21:25. The myth says that the name Marathon comes from the legend of Filippides. What are the advantages of Vietnam holidays in winter? The marathon has a proud history and is steeped in tradition. If you subscribe to BBC History Magazine Print or Digital Editions then you can unlock 10 years’ worth of archived history material fully searchable by Topic, Location, Period and Person. The story goes that a single soldier Pheidippides ran back from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens (a distance of about 42 km – the current marathon distance) to announce the Athenian victory before dropping dead. As the tens of 1000s of runners go through their final training stages (in 2009 more than 24,000 finished the race), we are reminded that the Marathon run dates back to the ancient Greeks, to the battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Annually, more than 500 marathons are organized worldwide. Yes, he fought on the Marathon … In the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, the organizers were looking for a great event that would recall the glory of ancient Greece. The first winner was a Greek (Spyros Louis), and since then, marathons have taken place all over the world (although the exact distance of 42.195km wasn’t fixed until 1908 when the Olympics came to London). | Tips to keep in mind, Ancient magic and modern architecture in the Basque Country. At the 3.2 km race, the organizers realized that Switzer was a woman, Kathrine Switzer. We have to wait until the 1st century BC before we hear about the journey from Marathon to Athens being made by a single runner and until 180 AD, in the writings of Lucian, for it to be crystallized into the story we know today. Although today it is normal to see hundreds of women who start, enjoy and finish marathons, not too many years ago they could not do it. This legend was immortalized a poem by Robert Browning. Also, they were going to murder their children and their women. There seems to be a problem, please try again. However, the distance varied over the years, depending on the circuit that was used. The Central Florida Legends Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K is on Sunday November 22, 2020. Joy in his blood bursting his heart, he died–the bliss! When the modern Olympic games were inaugurated in 1896 in Greece , the first Olympic Marathon commemorated this mythical run with a 24.85 mile race from Marathon Bridge to the Olympic stadium in Athens. It was here that the idea of the myth of Philippi and the Battle of Marathon arose. The story goes that he proclaimed, “Rejoice, we are victorious” (perhaps making a reference to Nike, the Greek goddess of victory and where the athletic gear company gets its name) and subsequently dropped dead. However, this rule did not prevent women from hiding and participating in a covert manner. Battle of Marathon (September 490 BCE), in the Greco-Persian Wars, decisive battle in which the Athenians repulsed the first Persian invasion of Greece. This legend was immortalized a poem by Robert Browning. Marathon. In this case, it tell us about the origin of the marathon, something that isn't from other world and we have ever heard of, do you think so? Run, Pheidippides, one race more! The first marathon was 40 … You will say that there was not much hurry if they had won, right? The Battle of Marathon was a critical victory in the Greco-Persian wars, showing the Greeks that the Persians could be beaten, despite their numbers and military prowess, and the Battle of Marathon is often seen as a pivotal moment in European history. marked one of the great turning points in world history. For several Olympics the “official” length of a marathon danced around, a mile or two was added or lost, but in 1924, at the Paris Olympics, the 26.2-mile distance was established as the official marathon distance. The Marathon Story The Battle that Changed Human History By Paul Ostapuk. • As a consequence, women could not compete in races of more than 200 meters until the 1960s Pheidippides (Greek: Φειδιππίδης, [pʰeː.dip.pí.dɛːs], "Son of Pheídippos") or Philippides (Φιλιππίδης) is the central figure in the story that inspired a modern sporting event, the marathon race.Pheidippides is said to have run from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the victory of the battle of Marathon. The myth says that the name Marathon comes from the legend of Filippides. Ran like fire once more: and the space ‘twixt the Fennel-field The distance between Marathon and Athens is about 40 kilometers and this messenger had to travel quickly. Spend 3 days in the Russian capital, 13 places to see in the Algarve | Enjoy the Paradise of Portugal, What to see in Poland: a country from a fairy tale, Is it safe to travel to Turkey? These were the years of the Persian and Greek wars. Thus, out of an accomplishment by an ancient Greek, a legend corrupted by historians and poets from Greece to England, and the dreams of two Frenchmen, was born the most audacious of races, the marathon. Comments Off on The Legend of the Original Greek Marathon. At that time, the longest race in which they were allowed to participate was 800 m. The Story of Kathrine Switzer: The Running Legend Who Ran the Boston Marathon When Women Weren’t Allowed. Fortunately, legend tells that Filippides achieved the feat, and after running the 40 kilometers with his last forces, collapsed in front of Athens shouting the message: we have won. We will keep you informed about our trips. So, when Persia was dust, all cried “To Akropolis! According to this legend, Filippides was a Greek messenger. Until in 1908 at the Olympic Games in London, it was officially modified. Pheidippides was a professional messenger and in 490 BC supposedly brought a message from the plains of Marathon, where the Greek Army had just won a crucial battle against the invading Persian Army of General Datis, to Athens. Thank you for subscribing to HistoryExtra, you now have unlimited access.