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Pheidippides (Ancient Greek: Φειδιππίδης, Ancient Greek pronunciation: [pʰeː.dip.pí.dɛːs], Modern Greek: [fi.ðiˈpi.ðis] lit. ' Son of Pheídippos ' ) or Philippides ( Φιλιππίδης ) is the central figure in the story that inspired the marathon race .
The Greek historian Herodotus, the main source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentions Pheidippides as the messenger who runs from Athens to Sparta asking for help, and then runs back, a distance of over 240 kilometres [1] each way. [2] After the battle, he runs back to Athens to spread the news and raise the spirits.
Pheidippides' run to Sparta to bring aid has other legends associated with it. Herodotus mentions that Pheidippides was visited by the god Pan on his way to Sparta (or perhaps on his return journey). [33] Pan asked why the Athenians did not honor him and the awed Pheidippides promised that they would do so from then on.
Pheidippides, also known as Philippides, said to have run from Marathon to Athens bringing news of the Greek victory at the battle of Marathon; Philippides (comic poet), flourished 336-333 BC. Philippides of Paiania, fl. 293/2 BC, wealthy Athenian oligarch; Mary Zelia Pease Philippides (1906–2009), American archaeologist and librarian
At the same time, Athens' greatest runner, Pheidippides (or Philippides) was sent to Sparta to request that the Spartan army march to Athens' aid. [92] Pheidippides arrived during the festival of Carneia , a sacrosanct period of peace, and was informed that the Spartan army could not march to war until the full moon rose; Athens could not ...
In 1879, Robert Browning wrote the poem Pheidippides. Browning's poem, his composite story, became part of late 19th-century popular culture and was accepted as a historical legend. [14] Mount Pentelicus stands between Marathon and Athens, which means that Philippides would have had to run around the mountain, either to the north or to the south.
Statue of Pheidippides who claimed to have spoken to the god Pan Epiphanies tend to have been reported more frequently at times of extreme danger, such as the Persian Wars . For example, at the Battle of Marathon in 490 it was said that Pan , Theseus , and another hero, fought against the Persians. [ 4 ]
The legend of the ancient run — the run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides to announce victory at the Battle of Marathon to either Athens — had become more culturally prominent in late 19th-century Europe. Robert Browning's 1879 poem "Pheidippides" had brought the story to wider attention, as had an 1890 archeological dig of the Marathon ...