# In which building in the Agora did Pheidippides die on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-building-in-the-agora-did-pheidippides-die-on/812561 "2018-04-17T05:01:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-building-in-the-agora-did-pheidippides-die-on/812561/1 "2018-04-17T05:01:32Z")
Hi I’ve searched high and low for any mention of the building in the Agora (as depicted in the painting) that Pheidippides according to legend is suppose to have died on. Which government building does the painting depict in the Agora? > **[Pheidippides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides)** > > Pheidippides (Greek: Φειδιππίδης, Ancient Greek pronunciation: \[pʰeː.dip.pí.dɛːs\], Modern Greek: \[fi.ðiˈpi.ðis\]; "Son of Pheídippos") or Philippides (Φιλιππίδης) is the central figure in the story that inspired a modern sporting event, the marathon race. Pheidippides is said to have run from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the victory of the battle of Marathon. > The first recorded account showing a courier running from Marathon to Athens to announce victory is from within Lucian's prose o... Painting of Pheidippides as he gave word of the Greek victory over Persia at the Battle of Marathon to the people of Athens. Luc-Olivier Merson, 1869 I look forward to your feedback. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-building-in-the-agora-did-pheidippides-die-on/812561/2 "2018-04-17T05:28:50Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi > I’ve searched high and low for any mention of the building in the Agora (as depicted in the painting) that Pheidippides according to legend is suppose to have died on. Which government building does the painting depict in the Agora? > > [Pheidippides - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheidippides) > > Painting of Pheidippides as he gave word of the Greek victory over Persia at the Battle of Marathon to the people of Athens. > Luc-Olivier Merson, 1869 > I look forward to your feedback. In the Pnyx?? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-building-in-the-agora-did-pheidippides-die-on/812561/3 "2018-04-17T15:07:41Z")
Since there are three people seated on the dais, I expect they are supposed to represent the three [_Archons_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon) who governed Athens: > [@](#): > > In Athens a system of three concurrent Archons evolved, the three office holders being known as the _Archon Eponymos_, the _Polemarch_, and the _Archon Basileus_. According to Aristotle’s _Constitution of the Athenians_, the power of the king first devolved to the archons, and these offices were filled from the aristocracy by elections every ten years. During this period the Archon Eponymos was the chief magistrate, the Polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the Archon Basileus was responsible for the civic religious arrangements. After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the Archon Eponymos. The painting was created by a Frenchman in 1869, before the Agora and Pnyx were excavated, so I’m not sure if it’s historically authentic in its depiction. I can’t find any information about whether there was a specific place in Athens for the Archons to gather or sit, but it seems a reasonable assumption that they might have some honorific seating arrangements. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-building-in-the-agora-did-pheidippides-die-on/812561/4 "2018-04-17T20:38:03Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Since there are three people seated on the dais, I expect they are supposed to represent the three [_Archons_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon) who governed Athens: > The painting was created by a Frenchman in 1869, before the Agora and Pnyx were excavated, so I’m not sure if it’s historically authentic in its depiction. I can’t find any information about whether there was a specific place in Athens for the Archons to gather or sit, but it seems a reasonable assumption that they might have some honorific seating arrangements. Thanks Walden After Midnight. Very helpful.