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Athletics in thrace duringthe hellenistic and romanperiodsAlbanidis Evangelos aa Democritus University of ThracePublished online: 07 Mar 2007.

To cite this article: Albanidis Evangelos (1998) Athletics in thrace during thehellenistic and roman periods, The International Journal of the History of Sport,15:1, 163-172, DOI: 10.1080/09523369808714017

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Athletics in Thrace during the Hellenisticand Roman Periods

ALBANIDIS EVANGELOS

Thrace, considered to be one of the oldest centres of Hellenism, is divided into threedifferent countries today: Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. This article is centred onThrace with its further ethnological and geographical boundaries: the Strymon riversituated in the west, the Dunavis in the north, the Thracian sea in the south and thePropontis and the Black Seas in the east.1 The purpose of this study was to collect andanalyse the data on athletics in Thrace during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Itrefers in particular to the institutions of athletics (ephebia and gymnasiarchia) and thegames themselves.

The sources used were mainly coins, inscriptions and many other archaeologicalartefacts. The coins were found in the British,2 Bulgarian' and Turkish'1 collections.The inscriptions were derived mainly from the collection of G. Mihailov,' theInscriptiones Graecae6 and the Bulletin de Correspondence Hellenique.7

Athletic Institutions

Gymnasiarchy

The gymnasiarch was the principal of the gymnasium8 (according to the initialdefinition of the term). The gymnasiarchia was a service executed on behalf of thestate by the rich at their own expense.9 As it is known, the authority of the gymnasiarchin the Hellenistic and Roman times was given to the most honest and generous of thecitizens; the gymnasiarch was responsible for supplying olive oil, organizing games,providing the prizes and paying the teachers.10

The analysis of the inscriptions and coins revealed that in Thrace the institution ofgymnasiarchia existed in the Greek colonial centres such as Thasos" (fourth centuryBC) Amphipolis,12 Odessos," Mesembria'4 (third century BC), Sestos15 and Apollonia"(second century BC).

The majority of the relevant inscriptions in Thrace are austere in terms of content.One exception is the inscription of Sestos, which provides invaluable informationabout the activities of the gymnasiarch and his overall contribution to the city." Thelong inscription from Sestos (107 verses) dating from about 120 BC provides aninteresting insight into the gymnasium activities of the town on the Hellespont.According to the inscription, the activities of the gymnasium included militaryeducation, athletics, intellectual education and social activities.

The decree given by the state honoured the gymnasiarch Menas, who had servedtwice and merited the praise of his city. Menas Menitos conducted tactical exercisesfor both ephebi and neoi, organized contests in javelin-throwing and archery at hisown expense to honour the King as well as Hermes and Heracles. He awarded prizes

The International Journal of the History of Sport, Vol.15, No.1 (April 1998), pp.163-172PUBLISHED BY FRANK CASS, LONDON

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to the first and second winners, offered money generously for sacrifices, gave oil andstrigils to the athletes and was in charge of the building.

During the Roman period, the number of towns where the institution ofgymnasiarchia existed increased significantly and so did the number of relevantinscriptions. It is also important to note that there were gymnasiarchs not only in theGreek colonial centres but also in the towns and communities of the Thracianhinterland. In the latter, gymnasiarchia existed in the little town of Spinopara,18 and inthe,two Thracian communities of Siris" and Vergi.20 The adoption of the institution ofgymnasiarchia constitutes further proof of the full 'Hellenization' of native Thracians.It is important also to note that of 22 gymnasiarchs 11 had romanized names andeleven Greek names.

Ephebia

As far as it is known, the training given to the ephebia was originally military, but latergymnastic, literary and philosophical education was included.21 Physical educationexisted wherever the ephebic organizations were founded. The education of theephebes was organized in the gymnasium which was closely related to the ephebia.

The Thracian institutions of ephebia were found in the following towns: Sestos,22

Odessos,2' Dionysopolis,24 Philippopolis,2' Thassos,26 Tomis,2' Perinthus,28 Kallipolis,29

Byzantium,30 Amphipolis31 and Philippi.32 The role of the institution in Odessos,Dionysopolis, Philippi and Amphipolis is of special importance.

The most important archaeological finding of the ephebia was that of theephebarchic law in the gymnasium of Amphipolis.33 The law was excavated in 1984and unfortunately it has not been thoroughly analysed until now. The longest text ofthe law (139 verses), dating from about first century BC, provides invaluableinformation about the education of the ephebes, the moral standards of the society, itsauthorities as well as its social structure. Following the introduction, there isinformation on the association of teachers (paidotribes, trainer in javelin-throwing,trainer in archery, tamer of new horses). The training of ephebes in different sports(archery, javelin-throwing, sphendonismos, lithobolia, horse-riding, mounted javelin),and their participation in contests are also mentioned.

It is remarkable to note that in the ephebarchic law there is no reference to non-athletic activities in the gymnasium. There is no indication of sophists, rhetoricians,schoolmasters and musicians; it seems that the institution of ephebia aimed at theathletic and military preparation of ephebes and not their intellectual education.

The ephebic lists give us valuable information related to the institution of ephebia,including the names of the ephebes who completed their studies there. In Odessos thearchaeologists found eight ephebic lists.34 The most important was found in the Romanthermes." The elaborate decoration on the top of the inscription, the athletic contentsof the decorative relief on the bottom, and the wide range of names are veryimpressive.

In eight ephebic lists of Odessos, out of 221 names 167 are romanized (76 percent), 18 roman (8 per cent), 12 Asiatic (5 per cent) and 24 are Hellenized Thraciannames (11 per cent).36 Therefore, Greek colonists, Roman, Asian and native Thracianswere the participants in the ephebic institution of the town.

In the ephebic list of Dionysopolis,37 there is an important decorative relief (similarto the ephebic lists of Odessos) with a wide range of names. Out of 30 names are fiveHellenized Thracian (17 per cent), three Asian (10 per cent) and two Roman. We alsohave the same co-existence of names in an ephebic list of Phillipi.3*

We can therefore claim with certainty that the institution attracted not only Greek

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colonists but also native Thracians, Romans and Asian settlers. The institution thusemerges as an important centre of Hellenization with great powers of assimilation.

Games in Thrace during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods

The Hellenistic Period

During the prehistoric and historical ages, the ancient Greeks organized games fordifferent reasons.39 The death of an eminent man (king, prince or hero), for example,gave them such an opportunity. Proportional games were organized by nativeThracians. According to Herodotus40 and Xenophon,41 funeral games were held (horse-races or gladiatorial games) to honour dead kings, princes or heroes.

Extraordinary proof of these funeral games can be found in the frescoes of theThracian tomb of Kazanluk,42 situated 8 km from the ancient Thracian town ofSeuthopolis. The corridor walls are covered with scenes of funeral receptions withThracian riders. Furthermore, the roof of the main room of the tomb is covered withpaintings of chariot races.

During the Hellenistic period, Greek colonists organized games to honour godsand demigods as well as dead heroes, commonly oikists. Therefore, to honour theoikists, games were held in Abdera, in Amphipolis and in the Thracian Chersonese.The oikists honoured as heroes in Abdera included the mythological oikist Abderosand the real oikist Klazomenios Timisias.43 Games in honour of Abderos were heldevery year and the athletes competed naked.44 The natives of Amphipolis honouredVrasida from Sparta as an oikist and hero of their town. The games, Vrasidia, wereorganized annually in his honour.45 Also, the natives of the Thracian Chersoneseorganized events for naked athletes and horse-races in honour of the oikist MiltiadesCypselos.46 This tradition of funeral games continued regularly until the Hellenisticperiod and gradually became a political institution which was repeated periodically.

Nevertheless, during the Hellenistic period, as the analysis of the inscriptions andcoins revealed, games were also organized in Thrace in honour of gods and demigodssuch as Hermes, Herakles, Artemis and Dioskuri. These games which were held in theGreek colonial centres included the Heraklia in Thasos,47 the Vosporia (torch races) inByzantium4' (later named Phosphoria),4' the Hermaia in Odessos,50 the Dioskuria inMesembria5' and the torch races in honour of Artemis Tavropoulos in Amphipolis."These torch races figured on the coins of the town" and also in a pottery painting of ared figure krater which was excavated in the burial ground.54

During the Hellenistic period the principal gods honoured with games wereHermes and Heracles. After the archaic age in the south Hellenic area, Hermes andHeracles were the patrons of gymnasium and palaistra and were honoured by athletesin particular."

To conclude, during the Hellenistic period many Greek colonial centres, such asThasos, Amphipolis, Byzantium, Odessos, closely followed the Greek athletictradition and organized games according to the Greek model, thus becoming centresof political and national concentration.

The Roman Period

During the Roman period games were held in honour of gods (mainly Apollo),demigods such as Nymphes and Asklepios and Thracian gods such as Darzalas andKendrisos. Games were also held in honour of the Roman emperors: Hadrian,Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Geta, Heliogabalus and Gordian.

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The most important sources of information for the games of this period are mainlythe coins. During the events of local games, coins were cut (mainly in copper) and theprizes of the games figured on the back of each coin with sculptured scenes of theevents. The inscriptions and coins revealed that games were held in Philippopolis,Perinthus, Odessos, Anchialus, Byzantium, Philippi, Koela, Tomi, Pautalia and Siris.56

Philippopolis was the capital of Thrace and the seat of the Thracian koinon,"which means Thracian union. The initial games were the Pythia.'8 In 214 AD, theAlexandria Pythia, or Alexandria games were held to mark the visit of Caracalla.39 Theorganizer of the games, as we can conclude from the coins, was the Thracian koinon.It is possible that the koinon added the name of Alexandria to the already existinginstitution of Pythia, so as to flatter Caracalla who believed that he was the offspringof Alexander the Great.60

During the period of Heliogabalus in 218 AD the Kendrisia Pythia were organizedin Philippopolis to honour Kendrisos or Kendrisinos Apollo." These games were heldwhen Heliogabalus designated Philippopolis as the sacristan centre.62 The nameKendrisia was adopted because the temple was a place of worship for both KendrisinosApollo and Heliogabalus.63 Undoubtedly Philippopolis used the games as a means toachieve more privileges.

The figures on the coins also give us information on the prizes of the games, whichincluded laurel crowns, palm branches, apples, money, an amphora of oil and anagonistic urn (corona donatica) in the shape of a sphere." The towns' coins with theiragonistic figures indicate the plan of the games. The competitions included thediscus," wrestling,66 boxing" and javelin-throwing.6' The inscriptions give usinformation about the plan of the games, which included the pentathlon69 and thepankration for both men and youths.™ Unfortunately we have no information about theexistence of musical games and equestrian events in the plan of the games.

The Pythia of Philippopolis were both famous and international games. Accordingto the inscriptions, many athletes from all over the Balkan peninsula and Asia Minortook part." The Pythia were staged in the remarkable stadium of Philippopolis whichhad a magnificent entrance, marble tiers and a capacity of 25-30,000 spectators.72

Pythia games were also held in Perinthus either as a single event or combined withothers. The analysis of the coins revealed that the Pythia were the most importantgames in Perinthus according to evidence from the period of Heliogabalus to that ofSeptimius Severus. It seems that the Pythia were combined with the Aktia73 or with theHeraklia74 to form common games. The Aktia Pythia were often called the AktiaPythia-Philadelphia.7' In Perinthus, aside from the Aktia Pythia, other occasionalcompetitions were frequently held.

During the period of Septimius Severus, the games held in his honour were: theSeveria Prota,76 the Severia Thia and the Epidimia B Severus." The Epidimia wereheld in memory of the emperor's visit to Perinthus. The coins also revealed that inPerinthus the Philadephia78 games were held to honour the brothers Caracalla andGeta.

In Perinthus, beautiful coins were cut during the games. The engraved coinsdepicted the temple of Apollo, the temple of the emperor, agonistic urns with palmbranches and the inscription TIEPINGION NEfiKOPDN AKTIA nYOIA'.7' Themost important figures on the coins are those representing the prizes of the games.They included an agonistic table on which were two agonistic urns (corona donatica);and under the table an amphora and five balls, probably apples.8" A very significantcoin is the one with the inscription 'EfllAHMIA B' ZEBHPOY' depicting a figure.This indicates that naval games were also held in the town.81

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The games of Perinthus were international. According to the inscriptions manyathletes from all parts of Asia Minor such as Abydos82 and Ephesos" took part. Theinscriptions also give us information about the plan of the games, which includedpentathlon and pankration.84 The games of Perinthus were organized in the townstadium built in the second half of the second century AD, which had two tiers and asphendone.85

The games of Byzantium were of lesser importance. The Byzantians obviouslyorganized games with the name Antoninia Sevasta in order to flatter the emperorCaracalla for founding their towns.86 These games were either named AntoniniaSevasta" or Sevasta88 and were held every four years for half a century until the periodof Valerianos and Galiinos (211-257 AD).89 During the period of Gordian, aside fromthe Sevasta games, the Alexandria were most likely held as well.90 The Byzantiumgames were organized in the town stadium, which was built in the fifth century BC.91

During the games in Byzantium, beautiful coins were cut as in Philippopolis andPerinthus. According to the coins, the prizes of the games were similar to those of theother towns.92

In Anchialus, Severia Nymphia were held during the period of Septimius Severus,Caracalla and Geta, to honour nymphs and Septimius Severus.9' The prizes of thegames figured on the back of each relevant coin as well as crowned athletes. On thesecoins we can read the inscription: 'OYAniANQN AI"XIAAEQN ZEBHPIANYMOIA'.94

In Odessus, the Darzalia were held in honour of the Thracian god Darzalas" andthe Alexandria took place during the period of Gordian.96 The Darzalia, according tothe inscriptions, were held every four years." During the games impressive coins werecut and the coins depict the prizes98 as well as the temple and the statue of the Thraciangod Darzalas.99 That a Greek colony organized the Darzalia to honour a Thracian goddemonstrates the Thracian influence on religion and the worship of Odessus.

Games were held not only in the Greek colonial centres but also in Romancolonies and of course in towns and communities in the Thracian hinterland.According to the inscriptions, games were held in Pautalia, a racial centre of theThracian people, in honour of Dias and Hera."1" The plan included games for nakedathletes and horse-races. Similar games were also held during the Roman period inSiris,101 a Thracian community.

In Philippi, a Roman colony, Asklepeia were held in honour of Asklepios.102

Games were also held in a Roman town, Coela. According to the inscriptions duringHadrian's reign, Adriania were held as well as Sminthia in honour of Apollo."13

Conclusion

One can observe that the athletic institutions as well as the games of ancient Greecespread and became rooted in the Thracian lands, 100 kilometres from the great centresof the south Hellenic area.

These institutions existed not only in the Greek colonial centres but also in thetowns and communities of the Thracian hinterland. Games were held all over Thraceduring the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and in Roman times the number of gamesincreased significantly. The city authorities and the koina of Thrace used the games asa means to flatter the Roman emperors and to win more privileges. Therefore, newgames were organized or games were given new titles according to the preferences ofthe emperors. These new titles did not last longer than the life span of the eponymousemperors and did not, therefore, change the character of the games.

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The spread of the games throughout Thrace, in combination with the other sportinstitutions (ephebeia, gymnasiarchia), and the prevalence of Hellenic political andreligious institutions'04 constitute further proof of the full Hellenization of the whole ofThrace. It is also important to note that great cultural centres such as Philippopolis,Perinthus, Byzantium and Odessus came to prominence because of the games. Thesecultural centres followed the Greek athletic tradition closely and organized gamesaccording to the Greek model, thus becoming centres of political and nationalconcentration.

Undoubtedly, through the games Thrace promoted its national identity as well asits Greek culture.

Democritus University of Thrace

ABBREVIATIONS

AEM Archaeologisch - Epigraphiscb Mitteilungen aus Osterreich, WienABNP Annuaire de la Bibliotheque Nationale a PlovdivBCH Bulletin de Correspondance Hellenique, ParisBMNVarna Bulletin Musee National VarnaBSAVarna Bulletin de la societe archeologique a VarnaCBMThrace P. Gardner and B. Head, A catalogue of the Greek coins in the British Museum,

London, 1877COB Comite Olympique BulgareCIG Corpus Inscriptiorum Graecarum, Berlin 1828-53D-H A. Dumont and Th. Homolle, Melanges d'archeologie et d'epigraphie, Paris,

1892.D- Macedonia M. ArpTaa, H MaKtSovfa EV AiSoig cp9EYYOUEVOis Kdi pvn,udoi<;

awCoMEVoig, A9riva 1896Ergo To Epyov Tn$ ApxcuoAoyiKris ETaipeiai;, A9iivaiIEE loropia TOU EAAnviKOU 'ESvouc;, A9r|va 1973IGB G. Mihailov, Inscriptions Graecae in Bulgaria, repertae, I-IV, Serdicae,

1956-1966IG Inscriptiones Graecae, BeroliniK-IS P. Ka(pTavr?n, Icrropfa rr|c; TTOAEWC; Ttov Isppwv KOI THS nEpitpspEia? Trie

AGtivai 1967Krauss-IKA 'Die inschriften von Sestos und der Thrakischen Chersones', in Inschriften

griechischer Staedte aus Kleinasien, Band 19, Bonn, 1980Moretti-IAG L. Moretti, Iscrizioni Agonistische Creche, Rome, 1953Mouschmov- N.A. Mouschmov, Antiques de la presquile Balkanique, 1912APBMouschmov- N.A. Mouschmov, Les monaies antiques de Philippopolis, Annuaire deMAP la Bibliotheque Nationale a Plovdiv, 1924Rph Revue de Philologie, de Litterature et d'Histoire anciennes, Paris (3e serie)SNG Sylloge Numorum Graecorum, The collection of the American Numismatic

Society, New York 1987Schonert-MB E. Schonert-Geiss, Die munzpragung von Byzantion, Amsterdam, 1972Thassos I J. Pouiloux, Recherches sur I'histoire et les cultes de Thassos, I, Paris, 1954.T-TEA Z. Tasliklioglu, Trakya' da epigrafya arastirmalari, I-II, Istanbul, 1961/1971.T-TTK Z. Tasliklioglu, Turk Tarih Kurumu, Belleten 23 (1959), 552-61.

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NOTES

1. The boundaries of Thrace are included in: E. Oberhumer, Thrake (Grenzen), RE VIA1(1936) 394-6. B. Lenk and A. Betz, Thrake, RE VIA1 (1936), 414-472. K. Stergiopoulos,'The ancient authors and the boundaries of Thrace', Archion Thrakis, 36 (1973), 7-33. (InGreek). D. Samsaris, The Hellenisation of Thrace during the Hellenic and Roman Antiquity(Thessaloniki, 1980), pp.22-6. (In Greek).

2. P. Gardner and B. Head, A catalogue of the Greek coins in the British Museum (London,1877). The British Academy, Sylloge Numorum Graecorum Greece, Collection R.H.Evelpidis (Louvain, s.a.)

3. Th. Gerasimov, 'Beitrag zur Munzkunde von Odessos', BSAVarna, XI (1960), 59-69. N.A.Mouschmov, Les monaies antiques de Philippopolis, ABNP (Plovdiv, 1924).

4. Coins collection of the archaeological Museum of Tekir-dag. N.A. Mouschmov, Antiquesde la presquile Balkanique (Sofia, 1912).

5. G. Mihailov, Imcriptiones Graecae in Bulgaria repertae, I—IV (Serdicae, 1956-1966.)6. Inscriptiones Graecae (Berolini.)7. Bulletin de Correspondance Hellenique (Paris / Athens).8. About the role and the goals of the gymnasium in the Greek city, see: Pausanias V. 15, 8

and Plutarchos, Symposium 2, 4. J. Krause, Die Gymnastik und Agonistik der Hellenen(Leipzig, 1841), pp.107-10. N. Gardiner, Greek Athletic Sport and Festivals (London,1910), p.468.1. Marrou, History of Education in Antiquity (Athens, 1961) (Greek trans, byTh.Photinopoulos), p.193.

9. The institution of gymnasiarchy was one of the greatests rituals. J. Krause, Die Gymnastik,p.181.

10. For the duties and the activities of gymnasiarch see J. Krause, Die Gymnastik, pp.191—2.M. P. Nilsson, Die Hellenistische Schulle (Munich, 1955), pp.55-6. J. Oehler,Gymnasiarch, RE VII (1912) 1969-2004. N. Gardiner, Greek Athletic Sport and Festivals,pp.501-2.

11. IG XII, 377.12. Gauthier-LGB, p.163 f.4, p.l80fl andp.l64f.l.13. IGBI, 188 and IGB I, 44.14. IGBI, 322bis.15. D - H , 11 c7.16. IGBI, 390.17. The inscription is given with a translation in J. Krauss, 'Die Inschriften von Sestos und der

Thrakischen Chersones', in Inschriften griechischer Staedte aus Kleinasien, Band 19(Bonn, 1980.)

18. IGB IV, 2193.19. D-Macedonia, no.811,657.20. K-IS, p.417, no.709.21. O. Jachou-Alexandri, Mind and Body (Athens, 1990), p.31. (In Greek) A. Gianikopoulos,

History of Hellenic Education, Hellenistic Period, Vol.2 (Athens, 1993), p.227. (In Greek.)22. D - H , 11 c7.23. IGB I, 47, 47bis, 48, 49, 50, 51, Slbis, 51ter.24. IGB I, 14.25. IGB III1, 1040.26. ThasosII, 254, 261,337.27. AEM VI (1881) 24, no.47.28. AEM VIII (1884) 220, no.50.29. Krauss - IKA, p.67, no.5.30. MD-EB 73, no.56.31. Gauthier-LGB, pp. 161-2 f. 3.32. RPh 13 (1939) 147.

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33. Only a part of the law presented in: Ergo (1984) 23. Gauthier - LGB, pp.161-2 f. 3.34. IGB I, 47, 47bis, 48,49, 50, 51, 5Ibis, 51ter.35. IGB I, 47 bis M. Mirtschev, 'Inscriptions', BMNVarna 14 (1968), 151-62.36. The elaboration of names has done according to: D. Detschew, Die Thakischen Sprachresle

(Vienna, 1957). V. Besevliev, Untersuchungen uber die Personnenrmamen bei denThrakern (Amsterdam, 1970). G. Bakalakis, 'Thrakische Eigennamen aus denNordaagaischen Kusten', Thracia, 2 (1974), 261-79. K-M Apostolidis, 'About thelanguage of Thraceans', Thrakika, 3 (1932), 181-235. (In Greek). D. Samsaris, TheHellenisation of Thrace, pp.285-93.

37. IGB I, 14.38. RPh 13(1939) 1147-50.39. E. Pavlinis, History of Gymnastik (Athens, 1927), pp.11—12. (In Greek). Th. Gianakis,

Physical Education and Athletic (Athens, 1980), pp.37-9. (In Greek).40. Herodotus, History. V, 8 : 'ETTEITO Samouai r\ aAAux; YH KpuipavTE? X&Ma 5E XEOVTEI;

av&va Tfeeiai navToiov, EV TG) TO pEVicna ctEGAa Ti'6EVTai Kara Aoyov povopaxinc'-41. Xenophon. Hellenic III, 2, 5 : 'O'l 'OSpuaai 86ipaVTEC; TOUg EOUTUJV VEKpouc; Kai TTOAuv

O'IVOV EKTTIOVTES m autoTq Kai innoSpopiav Troir)aavTE<;6}Joi3 TO"? "EAAnaiv.1

42. Information for the tomb of Kazanluk are included in L. Jivkova, Le tombeau de Kazanlak(Sofia, 1974). L. Ognenova -Marinova, 'Essai de metre en rapport Athenio de Marone avecla peinture en Thrace vers la fin du IV siecle avant notre ere', Thracia IV (1977), 177-8.G. Bakalakis, 'Panimnitos', Thrakiki Epetirida, 6 (1985-1986), 26. (In Greek).

43. Herod. I, 168.44. Philostratos. Ikones II. 25. J. May, The Coinage ofAbdera (London, 1966), p.208, no.269

and 191-2, 192 691. 145. Thukidides. V. 11. D. Lazaridis, Amphipolis andArgilos (Athens, 1972), pp.44 and 59. (In

Greek).46. Herod. VII, 38: 'Kai oi TEAsuTrjaavTi XEpaovnaTrai 8uouai toe, vo^o? oiKicnrj Kai

avwva 'ITTTTIKOV TE Kai vupviKov Enicnaai, EV no AapuiaKnvGiv ou8£vi

47. Thasos I, 141. M. Launey, Le culte d' Herakles a Thassos (Paris, 1944), p.44.48. CIG.2034.49. L. Loukopoulou, Contribution a Vhistoire de la Thrace Propontique durant la periode

archaique (Athens, 1989), p. 107.50. IGB I, 44. IGB I, 45.51. IGB 12, 308 sept.52. D. Lazaridis, Amphipolis and Argilos, p.44.53. SNG 76-82, pi. 3.54. D. Lazaridis, Amphipolis and Argilos, fig. 112.55. J. Krause, Die Gymnastik und Agonistik der Hellenen (Leipzig 1841), p. 170. N.

Papachatzis, 'The religion in antiquity', IEE, vol. B', p.74.56. E. Albanidis, Athletics in Thrace during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods (Komotini

1995), p. 119.57. D. Kalapothakes, De Thracia Provincia Romana, pp.41-2. Mouschmov-MAP, 190. K.M.

Apostolidis, 'The Roman province Thrace and its capital town Philippopolis', Thrakika, 17(1942), 241-75. (In Greek).

58. Th. Gerasimov, Les Alexandria, Pythia et Kendreisia Philippopolis, Studia D. Deceev(Sofia, 1958), p.291. (In Bulgarian).

59. Th. Gerasimov, Les Alexandria, op.cit. p.291. Coins with the inscriptions: 'KOINON0PAKO.N AAEEANAPIA nY0IA EN OlAinnonOAEI' or ' ... AAEHANAPIA ENcplAinnonOAEI', were derived from: Mouschmov -MAP, 258-264,364, 365, 367, 371,382, 384, 399, 400. CBMThrace, 165-6, nos.36, 37, 40, 41.

60. Herodian, Hist. Rom. IV, 8, 1.. 2. Mouschmov - MAP, 190.61. Th. Gerasimov, Les Alexandria, pp.298-301. Coins with the inscriptions ' KENAPEIIIA

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ATHLETICS IN THRACE 171

nYGIA EN OlAinnonOAEI NEOKOPn' were derived from: Mouschmov - MAP272-3,469-75.

62. Th. Gerasimov, Les Alexandria, 299. For the sacristian centres in the eastern Roman empiresee P.R. Franke, Kleinasien zur Romerzeit - Griechisches Leben im Spiegel der Munzen(Munich, 1968), pp.35-6.

63. K. Majewski, 'Le sanctuaire Thrace et Greco-Romain d'Apollon Kendrisos-Philippopolisen Mesie Inferieure', Thracia IV (1977) 204, fig. 13.

64. A number of coins were presented in : D. Tsontchev, Contributions a I'histoire du stadeantique de Philippopolis (Sofia, 1947), pi. L, LI, LI1, LIII.

65. Th. Gerasimov, Les Alexandria, p.295, no. 1.66. Mouschmov-MAP, 481.67. Mouschmov-MAP, 262, 392.68. Mouschmov-MAP, 424, 518.69. IGB III1, 889.70. L. Robert, 'Inscriptions Agonistiques de Philippopolis', RPh 3 (1929) 153.71. CIA III, 129. IGB III1, 889.72. For the stadium see: D. Tsontchev, Contributions a I'histoire du stade antique de

Philippopolis, pp. 11-34. H. A. Petkova, 'The antique Stadium at Philippopolis', COB 2(1963)30.

73. Aktia were autonomous games during the first and second centuries AD, according toinscriptions Morreti-IAG no.75. For the Aktia-Pythia see also Mouschmov-APB, 255,no.4999.

74. Mouschmov-APB, 254.75. CBMThrace, 154, no.46, 51.76. CBMThrace, 151,no.32.77. CBMThrace, 152, no.33.78. CBMThrace 155, no.49, no.50.79. CBMThrace 153, no.42.80. CBMThrace, 151-5, no.31,32,46, 51, 52. Collection of Archaeological Museum of Tekir

Dag, inv. 182.81. CBMThrace 152, no.33.82. T-TEA 1 (1961) 179-80.83. Moretti -IAG, no.75.84. T-TEA 1 (1961) 179-80. Moretti - IAG, no.75.85. N. Asgari, Perinthos, 1986-Calismalari (Istanbul 1988). (In Turkish).86. E. Schonert-Geiss, Die Munzpragung von Byzantion (Amsterdam, 1972), p.24.87. Schonert-MB, no. 1535, 1536. CBMThrace, 102, no.76.88. Moretti-IAG, 263, no.90.89. E. Albanidis,/I/Wetfcs in Thrace, pp. 139-40.90. CIG591.91. J. Miller, Byzantion, RE III 1 (1897) 1123.92. Schonert-MB, no. 1547-51, 1658-61, 1726-31.93. Informations for the cult of Nymphs in Thrace see E. Mitropoulou, 'Charites-Nymphs',

Pulpudeva, 5 (1982), 83-99. Nymphs were the patrons of rivers, and possibly the patronsof the famous 'aquae calidae' of Anchialus.

94. CBMThrace 84 no.10. Munzer - AMT, no.491-3, 541-*, 562. Mouschmov-APB, 157,no.2858.

95. Mouschmov-APB, 94, no.1675, Tab. IV, 24. Information for Darzalas are included in K.M. Apostolidis, 'The religion of Thracians', Thrakika, 5 (1934), 56-7. (In Greek). Th.Gerasimov, 'La statue cultuelle du grand Dieu Darzalas Odessos', BSAVarna VIII (1951),65-72. W. Szubert, 'Thracian Worship', Thrakiki Epetirida, 8 (1991), 372-3.

96. Mouschmov-APB, 94, no. 1674.97. IGB I, 63bis.

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172 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF SPORT

98. Mouschmov-APB, 94, no. 1675, Tab. IV, 24.99. A. Beshkov, The Olympic Idea and Art (Sofia, 1985), p.42.

100. IGBIV, 2074.101. D-Macedonia, no.812.102. P. Lemerle, 'Inscriptions Latines et Grecques de Philippes', BCH, 59 (1935), 146.103. T-TEA, 179-180. Kraus -IKA, 28.104. For the prevalence of Hellenic political and religious institutions, see D. Samsaris, The

Hellenisation of Thrace, pp. 177-94.

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