Pheidippides

views updated May 23 2018

Pheidippides (5th century bc), Athenian messenger, who was sent to Sparta to ask for help after the Persian landing at Marathon in 490 and is said to have covered the 250 km (150 miles) in two days on foot.

A second (probably legendary) story says that he ran from Athens to Marathon to take part in the battle, and then returned with news of the victory to Athens, making the announcement with the dying words, ‘Greetings, we win!’ This story is the basis of the modern marathon race.