Full Answer
What is Marathon in Greek mythology?
– Gaia. City of Marathon. Marathon is a famous ancient Greek city. It was also where the Greeks won a great battle against the Persians in 490 B.C. After Kratos ' victory at Attica, he sees the sun fall from the sky and the world plunged into darkness.
Who is Marathon in Greek and Roman mythology?
The name "Marathon" ( Μαραθών) comes from the herb fennel, called marathon ( μάραθον) or marathos ( μάραθος) in Ancient Greek, so Marathon literally means "a place full of fennels". It is believed that the town was originally named so because of an abundance of fennel plants in the area.
What is a marathon in ancient Greece?
Marathon ( Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas; Attic / Katharevousa: Μαραθών, Marathṓn) is a town in Greece and the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians.
What is Marathon Greece?
Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols. Marathon ( Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas; Attic / Katharevousa: Μαραθών, Marathṓn) is a town in Greece and the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians.
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What is the significance of the Marathon in Greek history?
In a nod to Greek history, the first marathon commemorated the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield near the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C. According to legend, Pheidippides ran the approximately 25 miles to announce the defeat of the Persians to some anxious Athenians.
How difficult is the Athens Marathon?
It is perhaps the most difficult major marathon race: the course is uphill from the 10 km mark to the 31 km mark – the toughest uphill climb of any major marathon. The course begins in the town of Marathon, where it passes the tomb of the Athenian soldiers, and it traces a path near the coast through Nea Makri.
Why was the Battle of Marathon important?
The defeat at Marathon marked the end of the first Persian invasion of Greece, and the Persian force retreated to Asia. Darius then began raising a huge new army with which he meant to completely subjugate Greece; however, in 486 BC, his Egyptian subjects revolted, indefinitely postponing any Greek expedition.
Can anyone run the Athens Marathon?
Only runners that have dully, officially and in time registered for the event can participate in the «ATHENS MARATHON.
How much does the Athens Marathon cost?
$110 per personPackages & RatesRaceEntry FeeMarathon / 42K$110 per person10K$95 per person5K$85 per person
Can I walk the Athens Marathon?
There are three races where you can participate: 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres and the full Marathon race at 42.195 kilometres. The Authentic Marathon course is also available as a Power Walking race.
What impact did the Battle of Marathon have on Greece?
Marathon did not end the wars against Persia, but was the first turning point in establishing the success of the Greek, and specifically Athenian way, which would eventually give rise to all western culture as we know it. Thus, according to some, Marathon is the most important battle in history.
Why did the Spartans not fight at Marathon?
During the Battle of Marathon, Spartan Law instructed the Spartans to not send forces to aid Athens until the full moon had passed. Due to following this law, the Spartans did not come in time to fight in the Battle of Marathon.
How did the Battle of Marathon end?
The battle ended when the Persian centre then broke in panic towards their ships, pursued by the Greeks. Some, unaware of the local terrain, ran towards the swamps where unknown numbers drowned. The Athenians pursued the Persians back to their ships, and managed to capture seven ships, though most were able to launch.
Is the Athens Marathon flat?
The course follows a rather circular route around the War Memorial. The course becomes flat from the 6th to the 10thkm (Nea Makri). From the 11th to the 17thkm the course goes uphill at certain parts. Then, and up to Rafina Junction, the runners meet a steep descent.
How long is a Greek Marathon?
26 miles and 385 yardsThe first modern Olympic marathons were around 40km (25 miles), which is approximately the distance between Marathon and Athens. The marathon is the final athletic race in the Olympics, usually finishing in the stadium. The now standard length of 26 miles and 385 yards was originally run in the 1908 Games in London.
How long does it take to train for a Marathon?
between 16 and 20 weeksMost runners take between 16 and 20 weeks to train for a marathon. As you build up to the race, your heart, muscles and mind need to be conditioned for the exertion ahead, so following a strict training plan which gradually ups the ante and improves your fitness and stamina is very important.
Is the Athens marathon flat?
The course follows a rather circular route around the War Memorial. The course becomes flat from the 6th to the 10thkm (Nea Makri). From the 11th to the 17thkm the course goes uphill at certain parts. Then, and up to Rafina Junction, the runners meet a steep descent.
Is Athens Half Marathon Hilly?
The route does have hills for most of the way until you descend into Athens.
What is the elevation gain Athens Marathon?
The Athens Authentic Marathon has one of the highest elevation gains of any major international marathon, with a total of 332m (1,089ft) elevation gain across its 26.2 miles.
Where does Athens marathon start?
The starting point will be in front of the Panathinaikon Stadium (Propylea) and the course will run the historical center of the city of Athens, passing along significant monuments and city buildings. The 5km Road Race will finish in the Panathinaikon Stadium.
What tribe was Marathon in?
After Theseus united the 12 independent districts of Attica into one state, the name of Tetrapolis gradually fell into disuse; and the four places of which it consisted became Attic demi, Marathon, Tricorythus, and Oenoë belonging to the tribe Aeantis , and Probalinthus to the tribe Pandionis; but Marathon was so superior to the other three, that its name was applied to the whole district down to the latest times. Hence Lucian speaks of "the parts of Marathon about Oenoë".
How tall is the Kato Souli mast?
Kato Souli Naval Transmission Facility with its 250-metre (820 ft) tall radio mast, the tallest structure in Greece.
What is the burial mound of Soros?
The Soros, a burial mound ( Marathon tumuli) to the fallen of the Battle of Marathon. The Soros, a tumulus (Greek Τύμβος, tymbos, tomb), or burial mound, erected to the 192 Athenian fallen at the Battle of Marathon, is a feature of the coastal plain, now marked by a marble memorial stele and surrounded by a small park.
Why did the Persians sail from Marathon to Athens?
After Miltiades (the general of the Greek forces) defeated Darius ' Persian forces, the Persians decided to sail from Marathon to Athens in order to sack the unprotected city. Miltiades ordered all his hoplite forces to march "double time" back to Athens, so that by the time Darius' troops arrived they saw the same Greek force waiting for them.
Why is Marathon named Marathon?
It is believed that the town was originally named so because of an abundance of fennel plants in the area.
Where is the beach in Schinias?
The beach of Schinias is located southeast of the town. The beach is a popular as a spot for windsurfing spot and the Olympic Rowing Center used for the 2004 Summer Olympics is also located there. At the 1896 and 2004 Summer Olympics, Marathon was the starting point of the marathon races (for both women and men in 2004).
Where is Marathon in Greek mythology?
Marathon ( Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas; Attic / Katharevousa: Μαραθών, Marathṓn) is a town in Greece and the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians.
How many miles is the Athens Marathon?
Check out what some of previous tour members had to say about the Athens Marathon and Apostolos Greek Tours. The Athens Marathon 26.2 miles is run entirely on asphalt. The first twelve kilometers are level.
What was the first marathon?
The Athens Marathon is recognized as the original marathon course and it was the same course used in the 2004 Olympics held in Athens.
How old do you have to be to run a 10k?
For the 10k and 5k you must be at least 12 years old with parental authorization. New Changes for the 10km that is part of the Athens Marathon Program. The 10km Road Race will, from now on, be held on Saturday late afternoon (meaning the day before the Marathon Race on November 13th 2021).
Where is the 5km race?
Apart from the 10km, a 5km Road Race will also take place during the Athens Classic Marathon event. The starting point will be in front of the Panathinaikon Stadium (Propylea) and the course will run the historical center of the city of Athens, passing along significant monuments and city buildings.
Where is the 5km race in Athens?
Apart from the 10km, a 5km Road Race will also take place during the Athens Classic Marathon event. The starting point will be in front of the Panathinaikon Stadium (Propylea) and the course will run the historical center of the city of Athens, passing along significant monuments and city buildings. The 5km Road Race will finish in the Panathinaikon Stadium.
When is the Athens Marathon 2021?
Athens Marathon 2021. The Athens Marathon will take place on November 14, 2021. Mark your calendar! We will update the website in late March. Our support packages will be the same, but the dates and prices will change. Please visit our home page for complete details.
Where is Paul Samaras?
Paul Samaras, who personally conducts the Athens Marathon Tour each year, is a Greek native now living in Denver. He works closely S.E.G.A.S. (hellenic amateur athletic association) and others in Greece to smooth out the hassles so you can concentrate on what matters—running your best and experiencing Greece.
What currency do you need to travel to Greece?
Good to Know. thumb_up. The official currency of Greece is the Euro. thumb_up. If traveling to Greecefrom the US, you will need a passport that is valid for a minimum of 90 days. If you are a EU citizen, you will not need a passport, but are required to have an identity card with Latin characters. thumb_up.
What is the most romantic country in the world?
Known as one of the most romantic countrysides in the world, Greece offers runner enthusiasts the opportunity to run the same courses that our ancestors did. The Athens Marathonruns the original course that the Greeks of Athens ran many centuries ago. Take in the sites of the most historically significant structures on earth from a road’s eye view.
What country offers runners the opportunity to run the same courses as our ancestors did?
Known as one of the most romantic countrysides in the world, Greece offers runner enthusiasts the opportunity to run the same courses that our ancestors did.
How can I participate in the Athens Marathon?
The Athens Marathon always takes place on the second weekend in November. Registrations generally close about three weeks before the Marathon weekend, but the races are often fully booked long before that.
How far did Pheidippides cover?
There are a few different stories about Pheidippides. In fact, Herodotus claims that Pheidippides had ran from Athens to Sparta. Allegedly, he covered 219 kilometres, in just one day, in an attempt to summon the Spartan army against the Persians.
How long is the Marathon?
The length of the route is exactly 42.195 kilometres, or 26.2 miles.
How old do you have to be to run the Athens Marathon?
The Athens Marathon is open to everyone, as long as they are over 18 years of age. No qualification is needed in order to participate.
What is the world record for marathons in 2021?
As of November 2021, the world record for the Marathon is 2:01:39 hours. The record for the Athens Classic Marathon is a little longer – 2:10:37 hours for men and 2:31:06 for women.
How many men did the Athenians lose?
Regardless, the Greek forces managed to beat the invading army. According to Herodotus, the great historian, the Athenians only lost 192 men, while the casualties for Persians rose to 6,400.
What happened 2,500 years ago?
But what is certain is that, when running the Authentic Athens Marathon, athletes follow the route of ancient heroes who helped shape the iconic Greek civilization.
How far is the Windsor Castle race?
As the story goes, Queen Alexandra requested that the race start on the lawn of Windsor Castle (so the littlest royals could watch from the window of their nursery, according to some accounts) and finish in front of the royal box at the Olympic stadium—a distance that happened to be 26.2 miles (26 miles and 385 yards).
How many marathons were completed in 1976?
In 1976, an estimated 25,000 runners finished marathons in the United States; by 2013, the estimated number of competitors who completed a 26.2-mile course had soared to 541,000. Recommended for you.
Why is the marathon 26.2 miles?
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles? The marathon may have ancient roots, but the foot race’s official length of 26.2 miles wasn’t established until the 20th century . The first organized marathon was held in Athens at the 1896 Olympics, the start of the Games’ modern era.
How long was the 1896 marathon?
To commemorate his dramatic run, the distance of the 1896 Olympic marathon was set at 40 kilometers. For the next few Olympics, the length of the marathon remained close to 25 miles, but at the 1908 Games in London the course was extended, allegedly to accommodate the British royal family.
Where did the marathon take place?
393, never included such long-distance races. The idea for the modern marathon was inspired by the legend of an ancient Greek messenger who raced from the site of Marathon to Athens, a distance of about 40 kilometers, or nearly 25 miles, ...
When did the first marathon open for women?
The Boston Marathon, which kicked off in 1897 and is the world’s oldest annual marathon, began allowing female competitors in 1972, while the first Olympic marathon for women wasn’t held until 1984.
What is the Athens Marathon?
According to legend, it covers the same ground that the Athenian messenger Phiedippides ran when he brought news of victory from the battlefield of Marathon 2,500 years ago. When you run the Athens Marathon, you run in the very footsteps of the ancient gods and heros that gave birth to western civilization.
Where is the Marathon Race?
The Marathon Race starts at 09.00am from the Marathon Start Venue in the City of Marathonas.The first 200m of the course are sloping, leading to the exit of the Marathon Start Venue. The first 4 kilometers go downhill. The runners run along the Marathonos Avenue up to the 4thkm, when they turn right and enter the Marathonomachon Street and the Marathon Tomb, which they follow for the next 2.2km. The course follows a rather circular route around the War Memorial for those that died during the Marathon Battle (Marathon Tomb).
When did the Athens Classic Marathon start?
The Athens Classic Marathon began in 1972 as a joint venture between the Greek tourist board and atheltics association. The race came under the auspices of the current organisers and SEGAS in 1983 and has since become a major race, being awarded Gold Label Road Race status by the IAAF.
Where is the finish line for the Athens Marathon?
The finish line is in Athens’ magnificent Olympic Stadium, the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.
What Happened at the Battle of Marathon?
Map of the Battle of Marathon which took place in 490 B.C. and was part of the Greco-Persian Wars.
What was the significance of the Battle of Marathon?
The Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. was part of the first Persian invasion of Greece. The battle was fought on the Marathon plain of northeastern Attica and marked the first blows of the Greco-Persian War. With the Persians closing in on the Greek capitol, Athenian general Miltiades took command ...
What was the significance of the Marathon Men?
Almost immediately, the victory of “the Marathon men” captured the collective imagination of the Greeks. Ceremonial funeral mounds of the legendary 192 Athenian dead and the loyal Plataeans were erected on the battlefield. Epigrams were composed and panoramic murals were put on display.
Why did Miltiades thin out his army's center?
To meet the larger invading force, the Athenian army commander Miltiades thinned out his army's center and reinforced the wings, hoping that his hoplites—heavily armed foot soldiers—could hold the middle while his flanks broke through the lighter-clad Persian infantry. In fact, the Athenian center broke, but it held long enough for the Athenians to rout the Persian wings and meet in the rear, causing a general panic among the invaders.
Why was the Battle of Marathon fought?
The Battle of Marathon was fought because the Persian Army wanted to defeat the Greek city-states that supported the uprisings in Ionia, part of modern-day Turkey, against the Persian Empire.
How long was the first marathon?
The first marathon was 40 kilometers, or under 25 miles (as opposed to today’s 26.2 miles), and almost half of the competitors had to quit from exhaustion. The winner of the first marathon was Spiridon Louis, a Greek shepherd who never ran another competitive race again.
When was the first Boston Marathon?
The journey of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens also inspired the first Boston Marathon on April 19, 1897. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and is also notable for allowing women to compete in 1972 when the first Olympic marathon for women wasn’t held until 1984.
Overview
Marathon (Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas; Attic/Katharevousa: Μαραθών, Marathṓn) is a town in Greece and the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides, a Greek herald at the battle, was sent running from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory, which is how the marathon r…
History
The name "Marathon" (Μαραθών) comes from the herb fennel, called marathon (μάραθον) or marathos (μάραθος) in Ancient Greek, so Marathon literally means "a place full of fennel". It is believed that the town was originally named so because of an abundance of fennel plants in the area.
In ancient times, Marathon (Ancient Greek: Μαραθών) occupied a small plain in the northeast of ancient …
Municipality
The municipality Marathon was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:
• Grammatiko
• Marathon
• Nea Makri
Points of interest
• The Soros, a tumulus (Greek Τύμβος, tymbos, tomb), or burial mound, erected to the 192 Athenian fallen at the Battle of Marathon, is a feature of the coastal plain, now marked by a marble memorial stele and surrounded by a small park.
• Kato Souli Naval Transmission Facility with its 250-metre (820 ft) tall radio mast, the tallest structure in Greece.
Sister cities
• Hopkinton, Massachusetts, United States
• Xiamen, China
See also
• List of municipalities of Attica
• List of settlements in Attica
• Dimitrion Yordanidis, oldest man to have run the marathon, at age 98
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Marathon". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
External links
• Official web site (in Greek)
• www.e-marathon.gr (in Greek)