The day that shook the ancient world and still sends ripples through to modern times... the clash between the Persian Empire, the largest army the world has ever known, and the Greek world... the planet's first real "world wars" ... the combination of sheer madness with military brilliance on the plains and beaches of Marathon... the mystery runner who rushed back to Athens to announce the unexpected victory: but did that famous run ever really happen and did the runner die of exhaustion upon arrival? The legendary run that developed into the most popular _mass race∥of modern times, into the crowning event of the Olympic Games. Why has so little attention been paid to an event more epic and well-recorded run: that of 11,000 battle-scarred, armed soldiers who rushed back from Marathon within the same day to save the city of Athens? Was Athens betrayed by the rest of the Greek world in the 490 BC clash? Did the Spartans delay, or did they contribute to ultimate victory? Where is the Persian mass grave? Did the Persians revenge the Marathon marsh massacres? The day that shook the ancient world and still sends ripples through to modern times... the clash between the Persian Empire, the largest army the world has ever known, and the Greek world... the planet's first real ‗world wars∥... the combination of sheer madness with military brilliance on the plains and beaches of Marathon... the mystery runner who rushed back to Athens to announce the unexpected victory: but did that famous run ever really happen and did the runner die of exhaustion upon arrival? The legendary run that developed into the most popular _mass race∥