Battle of Marathon

The first, the Battle of Marathon, occurred in 490 BC when outmanned Athenian soldiers defeated the invading Persians, the super power of their day who had never been defeated in war.   6400 Perisans died and 192 Greeks.   The second event occurred in 1896 when Europeans resurrected the Olympics Games and re-created the route Phidippides ran from the fields of Marathon to Athens to announce the victory over the Persians.  The Europeans called this competitive race a “marathon.”

The tour starts off at the Marathon Dam which was built in 1931, the largest project in the Balkans at the time, and was the sole supplier of water to Athens until 1959.   The dam makes an ideal spot for a photo shoot with its vast scenic stretch of nature and water.  Next stop is the Marathon Runners Museum which has exhibits to fascinate even non-runners, such as, the posters from all past Olympic marathons and a document bearing Jesse Owens’ original signature.

At the Marathon Archaeology Museum you see the Ionic capital from the Nike trophy erected after the Battle of Marathon.   The most cherished stop on the top is at the Marathon Tumulus where the 192 Greek soldiers who perished in the Battle of Marathon, are still buried.  A stop at the actual battlefield is also on the bike route.

The Battle of Marathon tour is relatively easy because Marathon lies near at the coast and the roads are flat and rural.   The only hill is downhill, a thrilling descent from the Marathon Dam to Marathon.   If there is sufficient time, it is truly worthwhile to walk in the wetlands of nearby Schinias National Park.   Schinias consists of six ecosystems with a pine forest, a lake, a bay and the ancient Makaria Spring.

On Monday the Runners Museum is closed.  On Tuesdays the Archaeology Museum and Tumulus are closed.