Marathon
Marathon (Marathonas) is a coastal municipality in eastern Attica, about 40 kilometers northeast of Athens, overlooking a plain th...
Updated 17 July 2026
The story
The story of Marathon
The Battle of Marathon and its historical legacy
In 490 BC the plain of Marathon was the setting for the clash between the Athenian army, led by the general Miltiades, and the Persian troops who had landed on the coast. The Athenian victory, achieved despite being significantly outnumbered, is considered one of the decisive events of the Persian Wars and a founding moment of Greek and European history. The plain, still largely open farmland today, makes it easy to picture the geography of the battle: the sea on one side, the hills on the other, and the open ground between them where the two armies faced off. Walking or driving through this area means physically retracing the sites of an event that has echoed through the centuries, recounted by ancient historians such as Herodotus and turned into a symbol of resistance against a numerically superior enemy.
The Tymbos and the archaeological museum
The Tymbos of the Marathon Fighters is the large burial mound raised in honor of the 192 Athenian soldiers who fell in the battle, following the era's custom of burying fallen war heroes directly on the battlefield. The monument, well preserved and surrounded by greenery, is today one of the most visited sites in the area and a quiet, evocative landmark for those wishing to pay tribute to the memory of the battle. Nearby stands the Marathon archaeological museum, which gathers finds from excavations in the area, including evidence related to the battle as well as to older settlements on the plain. Visiting the Tymbos and the museum together offers a complete picture, linking the historical narrative to the physical finds and to the landscape that has preserved them for over two thousand years.
The origin of the marathon race
Connected to the 490 BC battle is also the legend of the messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Athenian victory, before collapsing and dying from the effort right after delivering the news. This story, handed down through the centuries, inspired the creation of the marathon race as a modern sporting event, introduced at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 along the symbolic route between Marathon and the capital. Even today the distance between the two points is a defining reference point for the town, which presents itself to the world as the birthplace of one of the most widely practiced competitive events internationally. Every year the Athens Authentic Marathon retraces this very route, starting from the town of Marathon and finishing at the Panathenaic Stadium in the heart of Athens.
The Marathon dam and lake
A few kilometers from the town center lies Marathon Lake, an artificial reservoir created by the dam of the same name, built in the first half of the twentieth century to secure Athens's water supply. The dam, faced with Pentelic marble, the same stone used for the Parthenon, is a notable example of the engineering of its time, combining practical function with monumental aesthetics. For decades the lake was the main source of drinking water for the Greek capital, before newer reservoirs took on part of that role. Today the area around the lake, surrounded by wooded hills, offers a quiet landscape suited to walks and excursions, in sharp contrast to the bustle of Athens and with added historical value tied to the role this area's water played in the life of the city.
Schinias, beach and national park
On the coast facing the battle plain lies the Schinias National Park, a protected area combining a long sandy beach, a dense pine forest, and a wetland of great natural value that serves as a refuge for numerous migratory bird species. The rowing canal built within the park was constructed for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, which hosted the rowing and canoeing competitions here, leaving behind a facility still used today for sports activities and training. Schinias beach, with its shallow waters and fine sand, is a popular destination both for local residents and for visitors seeking a seaside break not far from historic sites, while the trails through the pine forest offer a shaded setting for walking or cycling.
Experiencing Marathon today
Marathon today is a destination easily reached from Athens, suited both to a day trip and to a longer stay combining sea, nature, and history. The town retains a simple atmosphere tied to the area's agricultural and seaside life, while the surroundings offer a range of complementary experiences: the ancient memory of the battle, the engineering of the lake, the protected nature of Schinias, and the sporting legacy of the world's most famous race. Visitors can plan an itinerary on foot or by car, moving between the Tymbos, the museum, the lake, and the coast within a single day, or stay longer to enjoy the beach and nature trails. The combination of ancient history and coastal landscape makes Marathon a meaningful stop for anyone wishing to get to know Attica beyond the center of Athens alone.
Experiences not to miss
- Visit the Tymbos of the Marathon Fighters, the burial mound of the Athenian dead from 490 BC
- Explore the Marathon archaeological museum and its finds
- Admire the Marathon dam and lake, faced with Pentelic marble
- Relax on Schinias beach and walk through the national park's pine forest
- Ideally retrace the historic marathon route toward Athens
To see
