Battle of Marathon

The 36th Spartathlon race was completed last weekend as Japanese runner Yoshihiko Ishikawa finished first with an impressive time of 22 hours, 55 minutes and 13 seconds.

Japanese runner Yoshihiko Ishikawa was the winner of the 36th Spartathlon, one of the most challenging and historical ultra-marathon races in the world, hosted in Greece.

Greece is gearing up for the 36th version of Spartathlon, the ultramarathon race that covers 246 kilometers from Athens to Sparta and starts on Friday.

Treading on the footsteps of ancient messenger Pheidippides, the grueling race will this year have 387 participants who hail from 51 countries. They once again include Greek American ultramarathon superstar Dean Karnazis.

Greek archaeologists expressed their concern on Monday over the abandonment by the state of the site of the mid-5th century BC Temple of Artemis Agrotera, which they described as "one of the most historically important archaeological sites in the center of Athens."

The Ionic-style temple, dedicated to the Greek virgin goddess of the hunt was constructed of Pentelic marble.

The Environment Ministry has introduced new land use rules which allow municipalities to choose what sort of construction is allowed, or not allowed, as part of its town planning.

The changes were announced on Monday in a presidential decree which replaced the land use framework established in 1987.

A video showing the raid by members of the self-styled anarchist group Rouvikonas outside the house of Israeli Ambassador in the northern suburb of Psychiko in northern Athens on Thursday was uploaded on Friday morning on an anti-establishment website.

The video showed some 20 people throwing flyers and shouting slogans in favor of the Palestinians.

Lithuanian runner Aleksandr Sorokin won the 35th edition of Spartathlon, one of the most challenging and historical ultra-marathon races, in Sparta on Saturday.

Sorokin, 36, touched the feet of the statue of ancient Spartan King Leonidas in the center of Sparta before dawn around 5.00 am local time, covering non stop 246 kilometers from Athens in 22 hours, 4 minutes and 5 seconds.

Athletes smile for the camera at the starting line of the 35th Spartathlon, beneath the Acropolis, early on Friday morning. The grueling 246-kilometer ultramarathon celebrating Pheidippides, the Athenian messenger who was sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon, is this year being attempted by 400 athletes from around the world.

The Authentic Athens Marathon, will be held on Sunday November 12, 2017 along the route from Marathonas to Athens, offering the opportunity to all runners participating to make their dream come true.

Unconventional French writer, director and actor Olivier Py presents a modern interpretation of Aeschylus' "Prometheus Bound" and "The Suppliants" at the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus as part of the Greek Festival on Friday and Saturday, August 4-5.