Question
Here is the question : THE MARATHON ORIGINATES FROM WHICH COUNTRY?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Italy
- Greece
- Turkey
- Spain
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
The Greeks are always coming up with the most difficult athletic competitions! Even though it wasn’t precisely deliberate, this one. It all began when Pheidippides, a Greek messenger, was dispatched from the Marathon battlefield to Athens to announce the Greeks’ victory over the Persians. According to legend, he ran the entire 26.2 miles and then charged into the crowd, exclaiming, “We have won!” He immediately fell to the ground and died there. When the 1896 Olympics came to Athens, they wanted a new event to celebrate the glory of ancient Greece and this legend was brought back to life and the first marathon was hosted as part of the games. Only 9 of the 25 participants in that first marathon crossed the finish line. Today, hundreds of thousands of marathons are run annually, and Pheidippides deserves credit for that.
The marathon originates from Greece, the land of history, mythology, philosophy, democracy, and the Olympic Games. The marathon race was first established in 490 B.C. as a tribute to the legendary Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran about 25 miles to Athens to ask for help against the Persians.
Running long distances has been an integral part of Greek culture for centuries. The ancient Greeks believed that courage, strength, and endurance were virtues that defined a man and were displayed through physical feats. Stories of heroes and demigods going on long, arduous journeys and quests were common in Greek mythology.
When the modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896, marathon was undoubtedly included in the inaugural Olympics. The race started at Olympia, following the mythical route of Pheidippides, and ended in Athens’ Panathinaiko Stadium. The first Olympic marathon was won by Spyridon Louis, a water carrier from Marousi, in 2 hours, 58 minutes and 50 seconds.
For the ancient Greeks, the marathon demonstrated physical stamina, mental toughness, passion for glory, and devotion to the ideals of courage and honor. Today, marathon continues to represent these virtues and inspires runners across the globe. Completing a marathon requires months of dedication, grueling training, and an indomitable will to push one’s body to its absolute limit.
Marathon highlights the very best of human potential, determination and perseverance. It celebrates the achievements of amateur athletes as much as elite runners. Most of all, it stands as a revered tribute to the timeless spirit of athletics, competition and excellence that the ancient Greeks so deeply embodied and bequeathed to the world. The marathon will forever remain a symbolic connection between the history, mythology and legacy of Greece with the athletic endeavors of modern times.