Weather and astronomy provide clues about the first Marathon

Temperatures reached 93º F during yesterday's Women's Marathon. Conditions were probably very different for the first marathon just a few days shy of exactly 2,510 years ago according to a researcher who specializes in using celestial clues to solve mysteries in art and history.

Texas State University astrophysicist Donald Olson and his students have used information provided by the Sun, Moon and tides to answer questions about sinking of the Titanic, D-Day invasion, and Paul Revere's midnight ride as well as when and where paintings by Monet, van Gogh, and Munch.

In 2004, ahead of the Olympics return to Athens, Olson focused on the story of the a legend of a Greek messenger who ran the the 26-ish (more on that below) miles from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of victory in the battle along with a warning that the Persian fleet might be heading their way.   According to the story, this messenger, an experienced long distance runner, fell dead after delivering his message.

Scholars generally agree that the battle took place in 490 B.C. but disagree on a more precise date.

"The Greek historian Herodotus provides precise descriptions of the phase of the moon near the time of the Battle of Marathon," said Olson. "These are the key to dating the battle and the Marathon run using astronomy."

German classical scholar August Böckh had similar ideas in the 1800s, calling on Johann Encke, known for his calculations of the orbits of comets and asteroids as well as observations of Saturn.  They used clues provided in descriptions of the Moon's phases and mentions of the festival honoring the god Apollo Karneios to place the run from Marathon on September 12, 490 B.C.

"We realized that the previous method of dating, using the Athenian calendar, had a serious flaw," Olson said. "The Karneia was a Spartan festival, so the analysis should be done in the Spartan calendar."

While both were lunar calendars, the Spartan year began with the first full Moon after the fall equinox while the Athenian calendar began after the summer solstice. Böckh's calculations were off by a month because of the additional full Moon in 490 B.C. between the summer solstice and fall equinox.

This placed the first Marathon on August 12, 490 B.C.

The melodramatic ending to the story has led many, especially historians, to doubt that any of it actually happened.

The high forecasted for Tuesday August 10 is 39º C (102º F). Even accomplished distance runners can fall victim to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can also be fatal.

The 26.22 mile course run by athletes in the 2004 Athens Olympics wound its way through the Greek region of Attica, southeast of Mount Penteli. While this is the route generally accepted by historians, some advocate for a shorter, but steeper, route through the hills northwest of the mountain.

That first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896 covered 24.85 miles (40 km), just over 25 miles in the 1900 Olympics in Paris, and closer to 24.85 in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics.

The current 26 miles 385 yard standard has its roots in the 1908 London Olympics which began at the East Terrace of Windsor Castle and finished in front of the royal box to provide the best view for the Queen and royal children.

The Men's Marathon airs on WRAL at 6:00 p.m. today. The Women's race re-airs at 3:30 p.m.  A high of 87º F is forecasted for Tokyo today.