Herbst Humanities Dr. Fredricksmeyer
Physical Aretê and the Ancient Olympics
Olympic Games were the largest of four major competitive events, the others being the Pythian, Isthmian and Nemean Games
Mythological origin: Herakles in the Bronze Age-celebration of one of 12 labors-the stables of Augeas
Historical origin: probably developed from Funeral Games
Officially inaugurated in 776 BCE
lasted over 1,000 years, into the 5th century AD
hiatus of approximately 1500 years
revived in Athens in 1896 thanks especially to Baron Pierre de Coubertin
Role of Greek colonization: originally modest in scale and local, expanded dramatically as a result of Greek colonization in early Archaic Period; colonists saw it as a way to retain ties to motherland
Olympic Games held at Olympia
the center of Zeus’ worship in the ancient world
hence, religious as well as secular draw
pan-Hellenism
Continued to grow in popularity into the Roman era (later second century BCE
attendance reached 100,000
Olympic Truce
Served as the only uniform Ancient Greek dating system: Olympic games held every four years, this four year period called an Olympiad; for example, 774 BCE = “2nd year of 1st Olympiad”
Celebrity of athletes
-Epinicea (Victory Songs; etymology: epi- [on], nikê [victory])
-Pindar
Additional sources on the games include: ancient travel guides (Pausanias), pottery, fragments of sports manuals, and statues
Prize-olive wreath
Other extensive, professional sports circuits that enabled athletes to earn considerable wealth-i.e., the birth of professional sports
The site of Olympia (prone to flooding from River Alpheus, and fires-now has water cannons) included:
Temple of Zeus (with famous pedimental statues that we will view later in class)
Chryselephantine statue of Zeus by Pheidias
Altar of Zeus
Statue of Victory
Sacred Olive Tree
Temple of Hera-games in her honor competed in by women also at Olympia, called the
Heraia, comprised only running, for 3 different age groups
Various Stoa, or colonnades
Treasuries
The ancient sports complex included:
Gymnasium for practice in bad weather
Swimming pool (24 x 16 meters [current Olympic sized = 164ft x 82ft]
Palaestra for combat sports (etym. palaiein means “to wrestle”)
Entrance Gate to Stadium-reserved for judges and contestants
Stadium
- originally just a primitive dirt track
-in 3rd century BC, great stadium built that looks like the one built for the 1898 Olympics; 192 meters, ca. 600 ft. (= 1 stade, hence term stadium)
Hippodrome-exact location remains uncertain
General Elements
Oath taken by all judges and athletes, with harsh penalties
All events training for combat
In the nude, except for the hoplitodromos, charioteers, and jockeys (see below)
Only first place awarded (olive wreath [see above]-SHAME CULTURE
Included Jr. Olympics on first day-running, wrestling, boxing
The Games (records uncertain unless specified)
Pentathlon: pentathletes most admired of all athletes for the physique; only last two elements competed in outside the pentathlon
―discus
―javelin with thong
―long jump with weights: ancient record-16.6 meters
―running: in pentathlon, 1 length (called a stade, see above); foot races outside the pentathlon, included also 2 lengths, and 24 lengths
triastes (tripler)-Polites
modern analogy: Usain Bolt
other pan-Hellenic festivals included additional races, such as a relay race with a
torch-modern Olympics
no marathon: origin of modern event and Pheidippides
hoplitodromos: race in armor; varying degrees of armor, but sometimes head-to-
toe (modern analogy: The Bataan Death March)
―Wrestling:
no rests
no weight distinction; big men with high protein diets
two types-upright and on the ground, each with own goal
Milo: 5 Olympic victories, 25 victories at other circuit games; huge man with voracious
appetites; studied under Pythagoras and wrote several treatises
modern analogy: Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Karelin
Other combat sports
Boxing
Mythological origin-Apollo, Heracles
Historical origin-earliest evidence, a stone tablet found in Baghdad that dates to 5k BCE; in
Greece, attributed first to Spartans
Sparta
deinon derkomenoi (“looking daggers and meaning business”)
long time strips of hide wrapped around the hand
eventually a rudimentary glove
modern analogy: Muhammad Ali
Pankration
combined boxing, wrestling, and some kicking
Theaganes of Thasos-1400 victories
Greeks, like many physicians now, considered it less dangerous for athletes than boxing
Modern analogies: George Saint Pierre, Anderson Silva
Equestrian events
Poseidon-patron god of horses and horsemen
Horse races: no saddle or stirrups
Chariot races
legendary origin- Hippodameia and her father Oinomaos
first literary account: Book 23 of the Iliad and the Funeral Games for Patroclus
two and four horses chariots, in distances ranging from 2.5-8 miles
equestrian events perhaps most dangerous of all sports-ancient physician Galen on injuries and death of jockies and charioteers
Sophocles Electra on chariot racing and death of Orestes
Ovid’s Metamorphoses on the death of Hippolytus