Sites of the Historic Battle

Marathon Lake, Ramnous archaeological site, Schinias National Park – Marathon, Marathon beach, Tumulus, Marathon, Archaeological Museum, Nea Makri, Brexiza beach (Sanctuary of Egyptian Gods)

A long route that requires the use of a private car. It is a road trip to the historical sites of the wider Marathon area. Archaeological sites alternate with areas of special environmental significance, while the sea, with its beautiful beaches, is a constant and inviting experience. The route is suitable for use by people with disabilities as long as it is done by a private car.

The route includes the following landmarks, and their sequence indicates the direction of the journey.

Note: The orientation and safety of the walker/visitor is their sole responsibility. The present description, the related tracks (gpx) and the other informative material are simply a guide and do not in any way replace the personal responsibility of the visitor.

Main landmarks:

• Marathon Lake
• Vothonas
• Grammatiko
• Ramnous archaeological site
• Schinias Wetland
• Schinias – Marathon National Park
• Schinias Beach
• Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre
• Marathon Beach
• Athenian Tumulus
• Marathon
• Marathon Race Museum
• Starting point of the Marathon Race
• Archaeological Museum of Marathon
• Nea Makri
• Sanctuary of the Egyptian Gods
• Brexiza Beach

We start our journey from Lake Marathon. It is located in the northeastern part of Attica, 28 kilometers away from the center of Athens. Spread over an area of 2,450 acres, it is among the most significant wetlands in Attica. It is an ideal choice for a stroll throughout the seasons.

The Marathon Lake is artificial and was created to address the water shortage problem in Attica. In previous years, water carriers used to roam the neighborhoods and distribute water. The Marathon Dam was built between 1926 and 1929 in order to resolve this issue. It also created the artificial lake at the confluence of the Haradros and Varnavas streams. The dam is 54 meters high and 285 meters long, adorned with pure Pentelic marble, just like the Parthenon. The Marathon Lake served as the main water reservoir for Athens’ water supply from 1931, when it began supplying water, until 1959. Later, additional water sources were added (such as the Mornos Dam) to meet the city’s growing needs. Moreover, considering Athens’ current water needs, all the water from Marathon Lake would not be sufficient for its water supply for more than a few days. The Lake Marathon Water Museum is also interesting. Here, you can see the history of the dam’s construction. The exhibits include tools and equipment used during its construction. In the museum’s outdoor area, there are material transport wagons, large molds for water pipes, and an impressive water distributor.

Going to Lake Marathon, you will also come across the marble temple at the base of the dam. It is a faithful replica of the Athenians’ treasure, the temple they had built at Delphi, in commemoration of their victory against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.

In the area, we can visit the semi-mountainous settlements of Vothona and Grammatiko. The main settlement of Grammatiko maintains the appearance of a traditional village and is known for its traditional taverns. Near Grammatiko is the Ramnouns archaeological site, continuously inhabited since the Neolithic period. The municipality’s name comes from the plant “ramnos”, a thorny shrub that still grows in the area. Here, the ruins of the ancient municipality of Ramnous are preserved, consisting of many settlements. Within the walls, the gymnasium, theater, sanctuaries, and the acropolis of Ramnous are preserved. The central gate is located to the south of the fortress, but there are also other smaller gates. The construction of the walls was made from local marble, from the nearby cove of Agia Marina. The famous sanctuary of Nemesis from the 6th century BCE dominates, representing the most important sanctuary of the deity in the Hellenic region. The vengeful goddess closely resembles Artemis and may have represented a local form of her. The myth says that to make her his own, Zeus transformed into a swan, while she took the form of a goose. After their union, Nemesis laid an egg that was given to Leda to incubate. From this egg, Helen of Troy and the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) were born. Christians destroyed the statue in the late 4th century CE.

As you proceed towards the northeastern edge of the Marathon plain you will encounter the small settlement of Schinia, one of the largest beaches in Attica. In the Schinia area, wetlands are formed, which constitute an important aquatic habitat. In Schinia, there is also one of the largest pine forests in Greece with the rare variety Pinus Pinea. Due to its significant ecological value, the area is now characterized as a national park and belongs to the Natura 2000 network. The Schinia beach is particularly popular in the summer. In many parts, it is organized, but the best place for peace and relaxation is towards the northern end, where the landscape is impressive and suitable for walking. There is also a water sports center for windsurfing, waterskiing, and other similar water sports. The rowing course of the Schinia area was created for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, with a capacity of 14,000 seats. The area is accessible to everyone, we can walk around it, bike, or simply observe the birds.

The Battle of Marathon took place at the western end of the Schinia beach. About four kilometers from Schinia, after passing the Marathon beach, you will encounter the Marathon Tumulus. It is ten meters high and has a diameter of 50 meters, created after the battle between the Athenians and the Persians. Here, were buried the remains of the 192 fallen Athenian Marathon fighters.

The Battle of Marathon, as recounted by modern historians, stands as one of the most momentous clashes in human history. In 490 BC, the Persian army under Datis, with Artaphernes commanding the fleet, sailed south of Euboea and landed on the Marathon beach, present-day Schinias. The Persians’ next objective was to traverse Attica and lay siege to Athens. Despite the numerical superiority of the Persian forces (10,000 Athenians and 1,000 Plataeans against twice that number of Persians), the Athenians, led by Miltiades, managed to prevail and halt the Persian advance.

From the tumulus, you can head towards the historic settlement of Marathon, where, among other attractions, there is the Marathon Race Exhibition Center and the starting facilities for the annual classic-distance international Marathon race.

Continuing the journey, you will arrive at the town of Vrana Marathon, where you can  visit the Marathon Archaeological Museum. The museum’s premises also encompass a sheltered Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BC) tumulus cemetery and the so-called 5th-century BC Plataean tumulus. The permanent exhibition of the Marathon Archaeological Museum showcases the area’s history from prehistoric times to the Roman period, through artifacts primarily unearthed in the prehistoric cemeteries at Vrana and Tzepi. Although small, the museum houses findings of exceptional historical and cultural significance, and it is noteworthy that they are preserved and exhibited in the very place where they were discovered.

As you continue your exploration, you will reach the town of Nea Makri. Nea Makri was founded in 1924 when the first inhabitants arrived, refugees from the Lycian coast of Asia Minor, from Ionian Makri. As a summer resort, its population exceeds 55,000-60,000 in the summer months. Its center is a purely urban area with bustling activity throughout the year, boasting countless cafes along the Poseidonos Avenue, while restaurants and grills are mainly located inland near the central square.

There you will find the Sanctuary of the Egyptian Gods, an ancient sanctuary located next to the Small Marsh of Brexiza. In the summer, the coastal road is pedestrianized, so you may need to park a little further away. The sanctuary is believed to have been built by Herodes Atticus, a great orator and sophist, around 160 AD. Herodes chose Marathon for the sanctuary’s establishment as it was his birthplace and residence. It is possible that the complex was located within the boundaries of his estate in the area. The sanctuary was dedicated to Sarapis, the Hellenized form of the god Osiris, and the great festivals of Sarapis and Isis were held there, while their son Horus was also worshipped. It was built on an artificial island in the Small Marsh that in earlier times was called “Island”. Many findings from this archaeological site have been transferred and are on display at the Marathon Archaeological Museum and at the National Archaeological Museum. The modern archaeological site also includes a luxurious bathhouse (balaneion) dating from the 2nd century AD, which evidently formed part of a larger complex along with the sanctuary. It operated until the 4th century AD, when it was abandoned for unknown reasons.

Near the archaeological site lies the picturesque chapel of Agia Kyriaki. After resting under the shade of the trees, this tour ideally should be concluded with a meal at one of the many fish taverns located along the beach at close proximity to the shore.

This beach marks the end of the suggested route. As is evident from the above, the route is teeming with attractions, activity options, and more, while offering a variety of accommodation, dining, and entertainment options. Given this, visitors are strongly advised to schedule more time than the estimated duration (which does not include time spent visiting the various attractions) and possibly even an overnight stay.