THE ANCIENT GREEK GAMES

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THE ANCIENT GREEK GAMES

• Winners, Losers and Women.

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Why religion and athletics mix.

• Gods like to be entertained it pleases them.
• The winners honour the gods the gods are
  pleased.
• The winners noticed by the gods.
• Gods see all can catch and punish cheaters.

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Why Greek life and athletics mix.

• A fit citizen was a fit warrior.
• Events improved stamina, co-ordination.
• Equestrian events improved cavalry skills.
• Javelin improved spear accuracy.
• Hoplitodromos improved fitness in armour.
• Running races improved speed in attack.
• Sporting glory promoted military glory.

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The Games

• The Crown Games.
• The Olympics- Olympia.
• The Nemean Nemea.
• The Isthmian Isthmia.
• The Pythian Delphi.
• The Money Games.
• The Panathenaea Athens.

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The cycle.

• Year 1
• The Olympic Games. (Aug/Sept)
• Year 2
• The Isthmian Games.
• - The Nemean Games.
• Year 3
• The Pythian Games. (Aug/Sept)
• - The Great Panathenea. (July/Aug)
• Year 4
• The Isthmian Games.
• - The Nemean Games.

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Cheats.

• Penalties imposed on those who have bribed or
  killed opponents.
• Supervised by hellanodikai.
• Very rare (under oath of Zeus).
• Pay a fine to sanctuary or opponent.
• Be expelled from the games.
• Be rejected by home city.
• Be beaten (whipped) by hellanodikai.

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The Zanes (Zeus in the plural)
Statues of Zeus paid for out of the fines of
cheating athletes. 16 in total.
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The Prizes.

• Olympia Crown of olive. Cut from the
  Kallistephanos tree beside the temple.
• Pythian Crown of laurel, sacred tree of Apollo.
• Isthmian Crown of pine. From 5th century BC
  withered celery leaves.
• Nemean Crown of fresh celery leaves from Argos.
• Periodonikai winners at all 4 games in one
  period. Only 1 known!

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The closing ceremony
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Agias of Thessaly, pankratic champion at Olympia,
Nemean, Isthmian and Pythian games.
Chariot driver of Polyzalos of Syracuse, victor
in 478 or 474 BC
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Lasting fame.

• Victory parade into home city.
• Gap in walls made for entry.
• Cash award up to 6000 days wages!
• Statue set up in gymnasium or agora.
• Poet composes ode in honour.
• Exempt from taxation?
• Free food for life?
• Beautiful bride?

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The Heraia.

• In honour of Hera.
• Held in month before or after the Olympics.
• 16 women of Elis acted as judges.
• Footrace 5/6th of stadion.
• 3 age categories child, youth and young adult.
  All virgins.
• Winner received olive branch and right to have a
  statue in the Altis.

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Not naked!

• Athletes wore chiton dress from above knee, off
  the right shoulder to just above the breast.
• Hair loose at the back.

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The altar of Demeter Chamyne.
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Women in sport.

• Spartan women trained in athletics from childhood
  competed naked or half-naked.
• Intended to produce strong healthy mothers.
• Female athletic competitions limited only to the
  5/6 stadion race.
• All religious in character.
• Few examples known- most activity restricted to
  purely religious festivals.