The Marathon and Phidippides, or the intersection of Science and History
For the last century and half and specifically since the rebirth of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, September 12 has been celebrated as the anniversary of the Battle between the vastly outnumbered Athenian army and the invading Persians. After their plea for help to the Spartans (help the Spartans declined to offer), the Athenians eked out an unlikely victory and immediately dispatched a trained runner named Phidippides from the battlefield at Marathon back to Athens, a distance of approximately 26 miles.
Phidippides ran the entire distance, delivered the message of victory, and promptly died. Scientists today, however, dispute the scholarship that places the date on September 12, 490 BCE. Russell Doescher, Donald Olson and Marilynn Olson of Texas State University at San Marcos dispute this date using the description of the battle given at the time provided by Greek general and historian Herodotus, overturning the modern date calculated by 19th century German scholar August Boeckh. Using Herodotus’ contemporary accounts and his accurate descriptions of the lunar cycle and modern calculations of ancient sostices, the Olsons were able to show that the battle most likely occurred in the blistering heat of August.
Still, on this day, remember the runner. Remember an extraordinary Feat of courage and sacrifice, a man pushing himself to an extreme. Yes there were kings and generals and foot soldiers and many acts of valor and bravery on that day. Yes there is a cool use of modern science and astronomy to correct an historical inaccuracy that is interesting. But think of this: if ever a day can be commemorated for beating a sword into a plowshare, it was the day that Phidippides ran to Athens and gasped nenikikamen, we have won. This feat has inspired generations of people from every walk of life not into war or battle or military service, but into the hard and lonely road of the running life, the marathon. Go for a run or a walk or simply sit quietly in a chair today and think of the feat we remember on this day-not a feat of battle or war, but a feat of valor and courage. Think of Phidippides.
And congratulations to my brother Josh, runner extraordinaire, who completed the International Peace Marathon this weekend! This race celebrates the memory of Ethiopan runner Abebe Bikila, who became the first black African to win an Olympic medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. As for the blistering heat-temparatures approached 90 degrees during the run!
