Pheidippides (; ; , , ) or Philippides () was a 5th-century-BC Athenian running courier who was the central figure in the story that inspired the marathon race.
The best-known version of this story is the 1879 poem Pheidippides by Robert Browning,
Other than Herodotus's manuscripts, the form Pheidippides is only attested in Aristophanes's The Clouds (423 BC). Many historians argue that Aristophanes willfully distorted the actual name so as not to use the name of the hero of Marathon in his play or as a play on words meaning "save horses". However, given that the name Pheidippo is attested in the Iliad, the existence of a Pheidippides cannot be excluded. Still, according to many, this form remains an error of the copyists of the manuscripts.
Accounts
thumb|Painting of Pheidippides as he gave word of the Greek victory over [[Persian Empire|Persia at the Battle of Marathon to the people of Athens. (1869)]]
The original story by Herodotus relates that Pheidippides, an Athenian runner, or (translated as 'day-runner', 'courier', 'professional-running courier'), was sent to Sparta to request help before the Battle of Marathon against Persia in 490 BC. He ran about in two days, and then ran back. His account is as follows: