One way or the other, Pheidippides helped save Western civilization and inspired the modern marathon race, including the one starting at Town Common Monday.
This year marks the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, the event that inspired the marathon race. On Thursday, April 15, 2010, Senator Spilka and Representative Dykema kicked off the marathon weekend by welcoming the Girl Scouts of Hopkinton, Spyros Zagaris, the Mayor of Marathon, Greece, and Dimitri Kyriakides, the son of 1946 Boston Marathon Champion Stylianos Kyriakides, to the State House to celebrate the 2500th anniversary and what it represents. Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Majority Leader Jim Vallee will also be a part of the festivities.
The Battle of Marathon took place in Marathon, Greece in the year 490 BC. An Athenian army messenger ran 26.2 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Athenians’ victory over the Persians. Thus the distance, and the connection, to the modern Marathon.
Today, the Battle of Marathon is celebrated as a triumph of democracy over empire. It also celebrates the sport of marathon running as a truly global phenomenon that transcends national boundaries and forges international bonds of friendship.
The event was held at the Grand Staircase of the Massachusetts State House in Boston from 2:30 to 3:30 on Thursday, April 15, 2010.
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