Where was the first post established?

Soon after the invention of script, whenever the commanders of armies wanted to convey written messages, messengers and riders were sent with the messages. This was the beginning of the postal system. Every 5-10 km, station were built for spending the night, so that the messengers and the horses could take rest. Such a messenger system was also used by the ancient Egyptians around 5000 years ago. After the downfall of the Roman empire, the messenger system was forgotten. It was developed again only after the medieval ages. Today, postage stamps, air mail. and a mail horn are clear to almost every one as symbols of the post.

What does 'post' mean?

The word 'post' comes from the Latin word 'posita' which means 'defined'. During the time of the Roman ruler Julius Caesar, tired horses could be exchanged for fresh ones at defined places, called post stations. Afew years after Caesar's death, the emperor Augustus introduced a widespread forwarding system, which could be used only by the nobles and the Officials. The goods that were forwarded were also interesting: money, construction materials like marble, and wild animals from Africa for the gladiator games.

How did 'marathon race' in the Olympic games get its name?

There is a Greek legend regarding a messenger and the way he ran a long distance. When the Persians landed with their ships in the Greek coastal city of Marathon in 490 B.C., an army of Athenians defeated them. According to the legend, the messenger Pheidippides was dispatched to Athens to give them this good news. He could not ride his horse on the 40 km stretch between Marathon and Athens because it was very mountainious. So, he ran all the way. It is said that he reached Athens with the victory message and then fell down dead. In 1896, a race with a similar distance was included in the Olympic games as the 'marathon race'