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It is the other way around; running back from Marathon to Athens. The story takes place after Athenian Hoplites pushes back a Persian army into their ships at

It is the other way around; running back from Marathon to Athens. The story takes place after Athenian Hoplites pushes back a Persian army into their ships at the Marathon shores, after which this ship sails to Athens to wreak havoc. Hoplites make the run from Marathon to Athens just in time to defend against Persians and successfully discourage them against further attacks. After the Battle of Marathon, hoplites who were in the war referred it to as "the run", "we ran", or had "he ran" carved in their tombstones etc. So Marathon became synonymous with running.

hjjiehebebe 9y ago
TIL the Hoplites didn't run an official marathon
smogcutter 9y ago
This is not correct. "We ran" refers to the hoplite charge during the battle itself, which was notable for being a long run at full tilt (although Herodotus likely exaggerates): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D112%3Asection%3D3 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%... Here's the mention of "we ran" in Hansen: https://books.google.com/books?id=lAWEPUkz5sIC&pg=PT164&lpg=PT164&dq=hoplites+%22we+ran%22+battle+of+marathon&source=bl&ots=MgSSb5r0UN&sig=0KYJUR5acjzDmHWxl6tPe-mPcg4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyxc2t7YzYAhVmJsAKHTL4B2AQ6AEIWDAN#v=onepage&q=we%20ran&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=lAWEPUkz5sIC&pg=PT164&lpg=... The story of Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens (and dying on arrival) is certainly apocryphal, but it's nevertheless the origin of the modern marathon.
- stonewhite 9y ago
  Thanks for the correction and the links.
  - smogcutter 9y ago
    If you're interested in the period, check out the podcast Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. He's got a three part series on the Persians that's totally engrossing. For one thing, it's where I heard the "we ran" story about Marathon veterans. Carlin is a fantastic storyteller, and his stuff is very well researched.
- danielvf 9y ago
  "When they had been set in order and the sacrifices were favorable, the Athenians were sent forth and charged the foreigners at a run. The space between the armies was no less than eight stadia. [Note: One mile] "The Persians saw them running to attack and prepared to receive them, thinking the Athenians absolutely crazy, since they saw how few of them there were and that they ran up so fast without either cavalry or archers. "So the foreigners imagined, but when the Athenians all together fell upon the foreigners they fought in a way worthy of record. These are the first Hellenes whom we know of to use running against the enemy. They are also the first to endure looking at Median dress and men wearing it, for up until then just hearing the name of the Medes caused the Hellenes to panic. - It's also interesting to note that the Spartan army arrived at Marathon a day late "having marched (140 mi) in only three days."
mikestew 9y ago
That’s not quite the version I grew up with: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon#Marathon_run https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon#Marathon_... A single man runs from Marathon to Athens, says only “we are victorious”, and then dies. That’s the legend, but it’s confusing two events. Pheidippides actually ran from Athens to Sparta to request reinforcements. The Marathon to Athens run has the hoplites getting there just in time to see the Persians leave Athens.

hjjiehebebe 9y ago

TIL the Hoplites didn't run an official marathon

smogcutter 9y ago

This is not correct. "We ran" refers to the hoplite charge during the battle itself, which was notable for being a long run at full tilt (although Herodotus likely exaggerates): http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0126%3Abook%3D6%3Achapter%3D112%3Asection%3D3 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%... Here's the mention of "we ran" in Hansen: https://books.google.com/books?id=lAWEPUkz5sIC&pg=PT164&lpg=PT164&dq=hoplites+%22we+ran%22+battle+of+marathon&source=bl&ots=MgSSb5r0UN&sig=0KYJUR5acjzDmHWxl6tPe-mPcg4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyxc2t7YzYAhVmJsAKHTL4B2AQ6AEIWDAN#v=onepage&q=we%20ran&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=lAWEPUkz5sIC&pg=PT164&lpg=... The story of Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens (and dying on arrival) is certainly apocryphal, but it's nevertheless the origin of the modern marathon.

stonewhite 9y ago
Thanks for the correction and the links.
- smogcutter 9y ago
  If you're interested in the period, check out the podcast Dan Carlin's Hardcore History. He's got a three part series on the Persians that's totally engrossing. For one thing, it's where I heard the "we ran" story about Marathon veterans. Carlin is a fantastic storyteller, and his stuff is very well researched.
danielvf 9y ago
"When they had been set in order and the sacrifices were favorable, the Athenians were sent forth and charged the foreigners at a run. The space between the armies was no less than eight stadia. [Note: One mile] "The Persians saw them running to attack and prepared to receive them, thinking the Athenians absolutely crazy, since they saw how few of them there were and that they ran up so fast without either cavalry or archers. "So the foreigners imagined, but when the Athenians all together fell upon the foreigners they fought in a way worthy of record. These are the first Hellenes whom we know of to use running against the enemy. They are also the first to endure looking at Median dress and men wearing it, for up until then just hearing the name of the Medes caused the Hellenes to panic. - It's also interesting to note that the Spartan army arrived at Marathon a day late "having marched (140 mi) in only three days."

mikestew 9y ago

That’s not quite the version I grew up with: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon#Marathon_run https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon#Marathon_... A single man runs from Marathon to Athens, says only “we are victorious”, and then dies. That’s the legend, but it’s confusing two events. Pheidippides actually ran from Athens to Sparta to request reinforcements. The Marathon to Athens run has the hoplites getting there just in time to see the Persians leave Athens.