Pheidippides

Pheidippides (; fə-DIP-ə-DEEZ FAY-; Ancient Greek: Φειδιππίδης, Ancient Greek pronunciation: [pʰeː.dip.pí.dɛːs], Modern Greek: [fi.ðiˈpi.ðis] lit. 'Son of Pheídippos') or Philippides (Φιλιππίδης) was a 5th-century-BC Athenian running courier who was the central figure in the story that inspired the marathon race. The best-known version of this story is the 1879 poem Pheidippides by Robert Browning, in which Pheidippides is said to have run approximately 240 kilometres (150 mi) from Athens to Sparta (and back to Athens) before the Battle of Marathon (490 BC), in order to seek Spartan help against the Persians in the upcoming battle. Pheidippides then fought at the Battle of Marathon, and after the Athenian victory, he ran approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news. He died immediately after announcing the Athenian victory. Browning's poem is a composite of two earlier versions of Pheidippides's story. According to the earliest-known version of the story by the historian Herodotus, Pheidippides is said to have made an Athens-to-Sparta (and return) run before the battle, but Herodotus does not mention Pheidippides fighting at Marathon, a subsequent Marathon–Athens run, or his death. A much-later version of the story by the satirist Lucian mentions only a Marathon–Athens run and Pheidippides's death; this version has been called a "[likely] romantic invention". Pheidippides's legendary Marathon–Athens run was the inspiration for the modern 42-kilometre (26 mi) marathon race. Pheidippides's Athens–Sparta run inspired two ultramarathon races, the 246-kilometre (153 mi) Spartathlon and 490-kilometre (300 mi) Authentic Pheidippides Run.