Ancient Greek Olympic Sports
With the almost complete abandonment of classical studies in the later half of the 20th century, most educated individuals know next to nothing about the Ancient Greeks. One exception to this general ignorance, however, is the near universal knowledge (probably due to the publicity of the modern Olympics) that the Ancient Greeks had a powerful love of competition and sport. The Ancient Olympic Games are traditionally dated to 776 B.C.E.; but we know that Greek athletic competition had a long history prior to this recorded date. Homer devoted much of Book 23 of the Iliad to an account of the funeral games-really sporting events-that Achilles gave in honor of his dead friend, Patroclus. And in the Odyssey competitive games are an important part of the welcoming ritual organized by the Phaiakians for Odysseus. The ancient competition, naturally, was quite different from our modern games. There were far fewer events and only free Greek speaking men (and sometimes boys) were allowed to compete. There was no team competition, and the stress on individual achievement through public competition was related to the Greek ideal of excellence, called Arete. Like our modern athlete, men who competed successful
Boxers wrapped straps of soft ox-hide around their hands to strengthen their wrists and steady their fingers. The last of the heavy events was the pankration, a combination of both wrestling and boxing (without boxing gloves). Running and wrestling were also separate events but long jumping, the discus and the javelin were unique to the Pentathlon. Boxing in Ancient Greece differed in many ways from our modern conception of boxing. ly would win fame and honor (and oftentimes rewards) for themselves and for their city or state. The Olympic Games went on every fourth year for another few centuries. The forefinger would be used to spin the discus, which would keep it stable during flight. At the Temple of Zeus each athlete exchanged his palm branch for a crown of wild olives. The match would continue without rest until one man emerged victorious. 3 falls equaled a loss for the opponent. In the afternoon of day two the five events of the Pentathlon-the discus throw, long jump, javelin throw, stade (running) race and upright wrestling-were contested. They alternately struck one another until one yielded. A boxer, however, could signal defeat in the end of the bout at any time by holding up his index finger. If the judges felt the match was going on too long they had the option of ordering a klimax. Sometimes up to 100 cattle were sacrificed to Zeus in front of the assembled crowd.
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