History

[oryanzgrl]

Who won the Battle of Marathon?

[beale]

Snickers. Ha!

 

Sorry couldn't resist. I don't know really.

[Bob...]

Evans Rutto

[archbishop]

The Athenians

[Sludge]

At Marathon, the Greeks advanced and the wings of their army drew ahead of the centre, which was under heavy fire from the Persian archers. As the armies closed some of the Persians broke through gaps in the Greek centre and drove the Greek centre back in rout. The Greek retreat in the centre, besides pulling the Persians in, also brought the Greek wings inwards, shortening the Greek line. The inadvertent result was a double envelopment, and the battle ended when the whole Persian army, crowded into confusion, broke back in panic towards their ships and were pursued by the Greeks. Herodotus records that 6,400 Persians died for the loss of approximately 192 Athenians.  The Spartans arrived afterwards, toured the battlefield at Marathon, and agreed that the Athenians had won a great victory. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, who was born in the year of the battle, an Athenian soldier named Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to ask for assistance. This event was later turned into the popular legend that Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens. The International Olympic Committee estimates the distance from the Marathon battlefield to Athens as 34.5 km (21.4 miles). There is no historical evidence for this popular version of the legend, which first appears in Plutarch's  "On the Glory of Athens" in the 1st century AD. The story became the basis for the modern marathon athletics event. The race is run over a distance of 42.195 km (26.2 miles). 

[sddsddean]

The marathon is 26 miles 385 yards, because that is the distance used in the 1908 Olympics. This was the distance, by a certain route, from Windsor Castle (start) to White City Stadium (finish) plus most of one lap, because Queen Alexandra said it must finish in front of her in the Royal Box; so thats why you get the extra 385 yds!!