Marathon
Marathon was the coastal plain northeast of Athens where the Athenians defeated a much larger Persian force in 490 BC — the battle that saved Greek civilisation and inspired the modern marathon race.
The Story of Marathon
When Darius I sent a Persian expeditionary force to punish Athens for supporting the Ionian revolt, the Athenians met them at Marathon with around 10,000 hoplites against perhaps 25,000 Persians. The Athenian general Miltiades strengthened the wings and weakened the centre, encircling the Persian force. The Persians lost 6,400 men; the Athenians 192. A runner (traditionally Pheidippides) ran to Athens to announce the victory, reportedly gasping "We have won" before dying. The 192 Athenian dead were buried in a mound that still stands.
Symbols
Fun Fact
The marathon race (26.2 miles) was invented for the 1896 Olympics to commemorate Pheidippides' legendary run — the ancient world's most famous jog.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Salamis
🏛 placeGeography
An island in the Saronic Gulf where the Greeks won a decisive naval victory over Persia and where Ajax was king
Marathon
💭 conceptAthletics and military history
A long-distance running event of 42.195 kilometres, named after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE and the legendary run of a messenger bringing news of victory to Athens
Battle of Marathon
💭 conceptwar, divine intervention
The 490 BC battle where Athenian hoplites defeated Persia, believed by the Greeks to have been won with the aid of Pan, Theseus, and the hero Echetlus.
Thermopylae
🏛 placePass of the Hot Gates
Thermopylae was the narrow coastal pass where 300 Spartans and their allies made their legendary stand against the Persian invasion of 480 BC.
Troy
🏛 placeCity besieged in the Trojan War
The legendary city in Asia Minor besieged by the Greeks for ten years in the Trojan War. Troy's fall — achieved through the deception of the wooden horse — is one of myth's defining moments.
Mycenae
🏛 placeCitadel of Agamemnon
Mycenae was the great Bronze Age citadel in the Argolid, seat of King Agamemnon who led the Greek expedition against Troy — its Lion Gate still stands after 3,200 years.
Latium
🏛 placeGeography
The region of central Italy where Aeneas settled and where Rome would eventually be founded
Delphi Treasury of Athens
🏛 placevictory, piety
The marble treasury built by Athens at Delphi from Marathon spoils, the best-preserved building on the Sacred Way and a permanent advertisement of Athenian victory over Persia.
Ilium
🏛 placeGeography
The citadel of Troy, site of the legendary ten-year siege by the Greek forces
Thrace
🏛 placeWild land of Ares and Orpheus
Thrace was the vast, wild region north of Greece — homeland of Ares, Orpheus, the Maenads, and the fearsome warrior tribes the Greeks both feared and respected.
Lycia
🏛 placekingdom, Anatolia
A mountainous region in southwestern Anatolia whose warriors fought for Troy and whose hero Bellerophon slew the Chimera.
Rhoeteum
🏛 placegeography
A promontory on the Trojan shore where the tomb of Ajax was located and pilgrims came to honour the hero.