Marathon, Greece
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marathon (Μαραθώνας) | |
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| Location | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | Attica |
| Prefecture: | East Attica |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Municipality | |
| - Population: | 8,882 |
| - Area: | 97.06 km² (37 sq.mi.) |
| - Density: | 92 /km² (237 /sq.mi.) |
| Codes | |
| Postal codes: | 190 07 |
| Area codes: | 22940 |
| License plate codes: | Z |
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Marathon (Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας, Marathónas; Attic/ Katharevousa: Μαραθών, Marathón) is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the Athenian navy defeated the Persians. A legendary run of a messenger named Phidippides from Marathon to Athens, a distance of 26.2 miles or 42 kilometres, after the battle forms the basis for the modern-day marathon race. When the messenger arrived in Athens, he shouted "Nenikekamen" (we were victorious) and died. A burial mound (Greek Τύμβος, tymbos, i.e. tomb) for the 192 Athenian dead was erected near the battlefield. The Tymbos is now marked by a marble memorial stele and surrounded by a small park.
Marathon (μάραθον) is the Greek word for fennel. It is believed that the town was originally named so because of an abundance of fennel plants in the area.
The sophist and magnate Herodes Atticus was born in Marathon.
In 1925 a dam was constructed by the American company ULEN in a valley above Marathon, in order to ensure water supply for Athens. It was completed in 1930. About 10 km² of forested land were flooded to form Lake Marathon. The Dionysos-Nea Makri road, part of GR-83, passes through a traffic-light-controlled one-lane driveway on the crest of the dam wall. The plain area lies to the southeast.
The beach of Schinias is located southeast of the town: it is a popular windsurfing spot and the Olympic Rowing Center for the 2004 Summer Olympics is also located there.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics Marathon was the starting point for both men and women marathon races.
The area is susceptible to flash flooding, because of forest fires having denuded parts of the eastern slopes of Mount Penteli.
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Communal population | Change | Municipal population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 4,841 | - | - |
| 1991 | 5,453 | 612/12.62% | 12,979 |
Other settlements include Limni Marathona which the population is only 16 in 1991.
[edit] External links
- Map and aerial photos:
- Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint or Google
- Satellite images: Google - image now available
- Coordinates:
| Northwest: Kapandriti and Varnavas (both communes) | North: Grammatiko (commune) | Northeast: Grammatiko, Aegean Sea | |
| West: Stamata (commune) |
Marathon | East: Aegean Sea | |
| Southwest: Rodopoli (commune) | South: Nea Makri? |
[edit] See also
| Municipalities and communities of the East Attica Prefecture |
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| Acharnes • Agios Stefanos • Artemida • Avlona • Gerakas • Glyka Nera • Kalyvia Thorikou • Keratea • Kropia • Lavreotiki • Marathon • Markopoulo Mesogaias • Nea Makri • Paiania • Pallini • Rafina • Spata • Vari • Voula • Vouliagmeni |
| Afidnes • Agios Konstantinos • Anavyssos • Anixi • Anthousa • Dionysos • Drosia • Grammatiko • Kalamos • Kapandriti • Kouvaras • Kryoneri • Malakasa • Markopoulo Oropou • Nea Palatia • Oropos • Palaia Fokaia • Pikermi • Polydendri • Rodopoli • Saronida • Skala Oropou • Stamata • Sykamino • Thrakomakedones • Varnava |
