Pheidippides

American  

[fahy-dip-i-deez] / faɪˈdɪp ɪˌdiz /

Or Phidippides

noun

1. the Athenian runner who secured aid from Sparta in the struggle between the Athenians and the Persians 490 b.c.

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Pheidippides British  

/ faɪˈdɪpɪˌdiːz /

noun

1. 5th century _bc . Athenian athlete, who ran to Sparta to seek help against the Persians before the Battle of Marathon (490 _bc )

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Example Sentences

The marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers corresponds to the legend of how far the ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides traveled between Marathon and Athens to announce victory over the Persians in 490 B.C.

From Scientific American • Sep. 21, 2020

Pheidippides ran back to Athens with the bad news, but by then the Athenians were already engaged with the Persians.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

“Great for our sport, isn’t it? Think of the two most famous marathoners — Pheidippides and Rosie Ruiz,” said Boston Marathon champion Bill Rodgers in an interview with the Globe.

From Washington Post • Aug. 7, 2019

That first modern Olympics had included a new road race, inspired by the legend of the military messenger Pheidippides, from the plains of Marathon to the city of Athens, a distance of about 24.5 miles.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2017

And first, while the generals were yet in the city, they despatched a herald to Sparta, one Pheidippides, an Athenian, who was a courier by profession, one who attended to this very business.

From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Berdoe, Edward