Dolichos or Dolichus in ancient Olympics was a long-race (ca. 4800 m) introduced in 720 BC. Separate accounts of the race present conflicting evidence as to the actual length of the dolichos. However, the average stated length of the race was approximately 18-24 laps, or about three miles. The event was run similarly to modern marathons - the runners would begin and end their event in the stadium proper, but the race course would wind its way through the Olympic grounds. The course would often flank important shrines and statues in the sanctuary, passing by the Nike

Nike (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...

 statue by the temple of Zeus before returning to the stadium.

Winners

• Acanthus of Sparta
  Acanthus of Sparta
  Acanthus the Lacedaemonian, was victor in two footrace events, the diaulos and dolichos , in the Olympic games of 720 BC. He was also, according to some accounts, the first who ran naked in these games. Other accounts ascribe this to Orsippus the Megarian...
  
   720 BC
• Ergoteles of Himera
  Ergoteles of Himera
  -Background:Civil disorder had compelled him to leave Crete. He came to Sicily and was naturalized as a citizen of Himera. He won the Olympic dolichos of 472 BC and 464 BC, as well as winning twice in both Pythian and Isthmian games.-Tributes:A four-line inscribed epigram of ca. 450 BC found in...
  
   472 BC
• Ladas of Argos 460 BC
• Aristeus of Argos 420 BC
• Malacus
  Malacus
  Malacus may refer to:*Malacus synonym of adjective Malakos*Malacus or Malakos Macedonian Dolichos winner in Amphiarian games 329 BC...
  
   of Macedonia 329 BC
• Aegeus of Argos 328 BC
• Polites of Ceramus 69 AD

Dolichos on coinage

Dolichos events have been selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of the recent samples is the €10 Greek Relays commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to commemorate the 2004 Summer Olympics

2004 Summer Olympics

The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...

. In the obverse of the coin three modern athletes run, holding their batons while in the background three ancient athletes are shown running a dolichos (a semi-endurance race of approximately 3800 meters distance).

Sources

• Golden, Mark. Sport in the Ancient World from A to Z. Routledge, 2003. ISBN 0415248817
• Miller, Stephen G. Ancient Greek Athletics: the events at Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, and Isthmia. Yale University Press, 2004. ISBN 0300115296