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Reality
There is a problem here – Pheidippides was dead by the time of thebattle. He had run to Sparta to summon them to help Athens fightoff the invading Persians. On his return after running nearly 200miles, he died of exhaustion. Meanwhile the Athenians and Plataeansstayed in the hills around Marathon where the superior Persiancavalry could not get at them, waiting for the Spartans to arrive.On the tenth day, the Athenians saw the Persian cavalry beingembarked on ships, and took the opportunity of running down anddefeating the inferior Persian infantry on the plain, caughtwithout their cavalry protection. After this battle, the Atheniansrealised where the Persian cavalry was being shipped to – around toAthens to disembark and gallop up through the gates opened bytraitors. The whole Athenian army – all 18,000 – ran over the hillsthe 26 miles back to Athens and formed up in front of the city justas the Persian cavalry was disembarking. Frustrated, the Persiansre-embarked and went home. It is this run by the 18,000 after whomthe Marathon run of today commemorates, not the already deadPheidippides as is commonly claimed by peddlers of a ‘good story’.The real story is far more interesting and evocative of admiration.The reality of the 9,000’s feat is enhanced by the fact that theyran in sandals carrying armour, shields and weapons, and theirstaple diet was bread. Rather different and more challengingcompared to the conditions of today’s pampered athletes. But withtheir city, property and families as the prize, they had acompelling incentive as well as unrivaled guts.
