Ημεροδρόμος
Hemerodromos ( Day runner )- Long distance running messenger
Ειδικός ταχυδρόμος στην αρχαία Ελλάδα, που έπρεπε σε μία ημέρα να
διανύσει μεγάλη απόσταση. Κάθε ελληνική πόλη είχε τους ημεροδρόμους, που
ονομάζονταν άγγελοι και δρομοκήρυκες. Ο
Μαραθωνοδρόμος Φειδιππίδης, που μετέδωσε στους Αθηναίους το άγγελμα της
νίκης του Μαραθώνα και πέθανε την ίδια στιγμή, ανήκε στην τάξη των
ημεροδρόμων.
Ancient Greece was famous for its running
messengers, who were named hemerodromoi, meaning “day runners”. One of
the most famous running messengers is Philippides, who according to the
legend ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Greek
over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. He collapsed and
died as he delivered the message “we won”. While there are debates
around the accuracy of this historical legend, whether Philippides
actually ran from Marathon to Athens or between other cities, how far
this was, and if he was the one to deliver the victory message, the
marathon running event of 26.2 miles / 42 km is based on this legend.