The Pharaonic Race as opposed to the Race of Marathon

The story of the race of Marathon went down into history in 490 BC when the messenger Phidippides ran from the Battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians – a distance of some 42 kilometers.

The legend involving Phidippides takes the meaning of Marathon one step further as Herodotus tells us that the brave man after stopping at Athens, ran all the way to Sparta to ask for their army support and join the Greek fight against the Persians - a total of 240 kilometers.

In the days of Plutarch, who lived 46 to 119 AD, the above legend blended with that of the messenger who left from Marathon after the battle.

Whatever the truth, it is the race from Marathon to Athens that was revived for the first modern Olympic Games that were held in Athens in 1896, and that is usually contemplated when talking about a marathon. Unlike the modern running contests, the Race of Marathon was a sole and unique event.

To my greatest surprise, I recently learned that Pharaoh Taharqa, who ruled Egypt from 690 to 660 BC, designed a 100-kilometer-run for his soldiers to improve their physical condition and make them ready for battle against the Assyrians.

[Picture from World's Marathons]

An inscription to that effect was discovered in 1977, and the itinerary ran through the desert. Starting from the Sakkara Fayoum Oasis next to the Pyramid of Sakkara, the road led to the Pyramid of Hawara also at Fayoum, and onwards to the pyramids of Chefren, Elleshet, and Dahshour, to reach Memphis, and to end again at the Pyramid of Sakkara.

This ancient Egyptian marathon is also revived today to create a contemporary competition in the same historical setting. The annual race is open to individuals wishing to run the entire distance but also to 2-5 persons relay categories in which each runner has to run at least 10 kilometers. Today’s athletes enjoy the support of their coaches and are provided with food and drinks, and other necessary services along the road. This year’s Pharaonic Race will be held in November, still in the desert heat.