Question

What is the legend of the messenger of Marathon?

Question 2 options:

An Athenian messenger ran to tell the Persian troops that the Greeks were coming.


An Athenian messenger ran to Marathon to tell the Greeks the Persians were coming.


An Athenian messenger rode a horse from Athens to Marathon to help the Greeks fight against the Persians.


An Athenian messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks victory against the Persians.

Answer 1

The legend of the messenger of Marathon involves Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians in 490 BCE, collapsing and dying after delivering the message. This story inspired the modern marathon race. The historical record actually mentions his run from Athens to Sparta to seek assistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The legend of the messenger of Marathon is a story that emerged from the historical events following the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. The Athenians, outnumbered, faced a vast army of the Persians at Marathon. After their unprecedented victory over the Persian forces, a runner, who according to later accounts was named Pheidippides, was said to have run from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory. One popular version of the story holds that after delivering the message "Nenikekamen" ("We have won"), Pheidippides collapsed and died from exhaustion. This tale inspired the modern marathon race, symbolizing the long-distance run he is said to have made. The actual run of Pheidippides recorded in history was his earlier effort to go from Athens to Sparta to seek help against the Persians.

Answer 2

Most runners know the legend of the marathon, which goes something like this: In 490 B.C.E., after the Athenian army defeated a bunch of Persian invaders at the coastal town of Marathon, a Greek messenger named Pheidippides dashed off to Athens, 25 miles away, dramatically announced his side's victory, and collapsed