Marathon, Battle of

1. A famous battle in the fifth century b.c., in which the ancient Greeks defeated a much larger army of the Persian Empire.

According to legend, news of the victory was carried to Athens (see also Athens) from the plain of Marathon, a distance of about twenty-six miles, by a messenger who collapsed and died of exhaustion after delivering his message. The distance of the modern marathon foot race is based on this legend.

Example Sentences

Marathon, battle of, how affected Greece, 28.

From Project Gutenberg