Greek Athletics Flashcards
Attitude toward body
Iliad description of disabled: ugliest man, bandy-legged, lame of one foot, hunched shoulders, little hair on head, hated man, shrill voice, disgusted
Kalokagathia
- 2 concepts: physical and moral excellence, were strictly related and almost synonyms
- Places for physical training (gymnasia) were also the places for education and culture
- Gymnasium – from gymnos, “naked”
Origins of Greek Athletics Bronze Age
- All male citizens, speaking same language, religious beliefs
- Knossos Bull-leaping is a key ritual in the Minoan civilization (Bronze Age) for religious purposes
-Santorini boxers
Early Athletic Games in Homer
Iliad 23 – funerary games for Patroklos
- Achilles organizes games for Patroklos’ funeral (who was killed during the Trojan War) - 8 events (Chariot races, foot races, etc.) - Material prizes: tripods, cauldrons, metal, oxen, women - Homer, Odyssey 8 – contests among the Phaeacians - Boxing, wrestling, racing, discus
-Nike crowning athletes – wreath in hair
Origin of Athletics Modern approaches
- It is the consequence of Greek “natural agnostic attitude”
- It is an instinctive need
- By-product of work
- Ritual practice, tied to funerary cults
- “Ritual sacrifice of energy”
- Introduction to war
Culture of Competition
-From the very beginning, athletic competition in Greece is an inclusive and social practice, involving mediation and respect of shared rules
Basic Features of Greek Athletics
- Highly organized
- Fundamental cultural and identity role
- Contrast and meeting the need to stand out in society
Gods of Gymnasium
- Hercules (Strength and physical training)
- Hermes (logos, intellectual training)
- Eros (philia, love and solidarity)
- Agon (competition)
Ancient and Modern Athletics
- Complex training and dietary programs for athletes
- Epictetus: can’t drink cold water, wine, eat desserts, must exercise in heat and cold, etc.
- Contests were numerous
- Equestrian contests were accessible to the elite only
- The other contests were in theory open to all citizens, but not many could actually train intensively and full-time
- There were mentions of great athletes of humble origins, but they were probably exceptions at least in the archaic age
List of victories and prizes of the wrestler Theaios
- Panhellenic victories at Nemea, Isthmia, and a hoped-for one at Olympia
- Bronze shield
- Oil-filled amphorae
- Silver wine bowls
- Woolen clothes
- Bronze prizes from sanctuary of Zeus
Other (common) prizes
- Exceptional status among citizens
- Gifts from the city and sums of money
- Lifetime meals in the city Prytaneion
- Honor seats at festivals and games
- Honorary statues
- Chorus ode to victory (6-5th C)
- Athletes compared to heroes after their death
- Great victory could be used to boost their political career
- Could justify tyranny
Star athletes of Greek world
Milon: most successful wrestler and lead army of Kroton in battle against Sybaris
Phayllos: great jumper and took part of battle of Salamis with his won trireme
Rules
- Rules against excessive violence, bribery and foul play
- Referees and organizing committee could sanction, fine and DQ’s
- At Olympia, statues of Zeus were established out of the fines as a constant warning to athletes
Periodos Games
4 events - chart in notes
The Olympics
- 776 BC first celebrations of the Olympic games according to Hippias of Elis
- Chronology is debated, but the Greeks agreed that they were the first and most important Panhellenic games and were chosen as the general dating system of the Greek world
- Under the control of the small town of Elis; other poleis attempted to take control of the games
