Editing Pheidippides (section)

====Later embellishments====
The first known written account of a run from Marathon to Athens occurs in the works of the Greek writer [[Plutarch]] (46–120&nbsp;AD), in his essay "On the Glory of Athens". Plutarch attributes the run to a herald called either {{translit|grc|Thersippus}} or {{translit|grc|Eukles}}. [[Lucian]], a century later, credits one "Philippides". It seems likely that in the 500&nbsp;years between Herodotus's time and Plutarch's, the story of Pheidippides had become muddled with that of the Battle of Marathon (in particular with the story of the Athenian forces making the march from Marathon to Athens in order to intercept the Persian ships headed there), and some fanciful writer had invented the story of the run from Marathon to Athens.{{original research inline|date=April 2021}}

The first recorded account showing a courier running from Marathon to Athens to announce victory is from within [[Lucian]]'s prose on the first use of the word "joy" as a greeting in ''A Slip of the Tongue in Greeting'' (2nd century&nbsp;AD).<ref name="Edward Seldon Sears">{{cite book |last=Sears |first=Edward Seldon |year=2001 |title=Running through the Ages |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786450770 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vxxOw3FvOgwC&q=Pheidippedes |access-date=2012-04-08}}</ref><ref name="John A. Lucas">{{cite book |last=Lucas |first=John A. |title=A History of the Marathon race 490&nbsp;BC to 1975 |publisher=Pennsylvania State University & Los Angeles 1984 Foundation|quote=Philippides, the one who acted as messenger, is said to have used it first in our sense when he brought the news of victory from Marathon and addressed the magistrates in session when they were anxious how the battle had ended; "Joy to you, we've won" he said, and there and then he died, breathing his last breath with the words "Joy to you".}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Lucian |title=Pro lapsu inter salutandum |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/luc/wl2/wl204.htm |translator1=Fowler, F.G. |translator2=Fowler, H. W. |year=1905 |website=Sacred-texts.com |access-date=2013-12-14 |quote=The modern use of the word dates back to Philippides the dispatch-runner. Bringing the news of the victory in Marathon, he found the [[archon]]s seated, in suspense regarding the issue of the battle. 'Joy, we win!' he said, and died upon his message, breathing his last in the word 'joy'&nbsp;...}}</ref>

Most accounts incorrectly attribute Lucian's story to Herodotus, who wrote the history of the [[Persian Wars]] in his ''[[Histories (Herodotus)|Histories]]'' (composed about 440&nbsp;BC). However, Magill and Moose (2003) suggest that the story is likely a "romantic invention". They point out that Lucian is the only classical source with all the elements of the story known in modern culture as the "Marathon story of Pheidippides": a messenger running from the fields of Marathon to announce victory, then dying on completion of his mission.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Magill |first1=Frank Northen |last2=Moose |first2=Christina J. |date=23 Jan 2003 |series=Dictionary of World Biography |title=The Ancient World |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=1579580408 |via=Google Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wyKaVFZqbdUC&q=Marathon+runner+Philippides+Pheidippides&pg=PA820 |access-date=2012-04-08}}</ref>