"the Athens marathon"

newspaper article illustration, ink drawing

These days every self-respecting city seems to host an marathon race, and Athens is no exception. Well, it all started here, didn't it?

I tried to imagine the original Marathon runner Phidippides, who ran the 42 kilometres in 490 BC to announce to anxious Athens the victory of its army over the invading Persians. After managing to gasp "victory to us" he dropped dead. Apparently he ran without sponsors' logos or flashy trainers, in fact he may have been totally naked. I have given him a skimpy garment for his modesty and a scroll to symbolize the important message he was carrying.