Athenian hoplites crushed a much larger Persian invasion force on the plain of Marathon, saving the fledgling Greek city-state from conquest.

Athenian hoplites under Miltiades routed a much larger Persian invasion force on the plain of Marathon, an origin point for the marathon race legend.

In the days following the Athenian victory over Persia at Marathon, the story of a runner racing to Athens to announce triumph took shape in later legend.

According to legend, the messenger Pheidippides ran roughly 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce Greek victory over Persia, then collapsed and died.