Classics 2nd midterm study sheet

Lecture 13: Olympic Games (300BCE) - City state of Elis controlled Olympia

o Controlled games from 776 – 660 BCE o Conflict with Pisa as to who controlled the games (Pisa had control from 660 – 572)

Temple of hera was built in this period o Elis officially regained control in 470’s

Built temple of zeus - Heralds from Eliz spread word of Olympics and declared an Olympic truce one month before

which forbade armies from entering Elis territory o Granted safe passage for those undergoing pilgrimage to Olympic games o However did NOT put an end to wars in Greece (just a truce, not end of war)

- Hellanodikai (Judges) were selected by an Elean council 1. Judges conducted 30 day training period for athletes before games

1. Held in Elis and demonstated their control (began in 470’s when elis regained control)

2. Site of training was the old gymnasium

Had both a practice and “scacred track” (one for practice and one for competition -> religious aspect

Wrestling area = plethrion

Third area – “the square” – post competition training

The agora or hippodrome (training for Elian horses) 2. Evaluated athletes for qualification to compete in games

1. Point is to prove your worth 2. Hellanodikai to athletes: “If you have worked so as to be worthy of going to

Olympia, if you have done nothing indolent nor ignoble, then take heart and march on; but those who have not so trained may leave and go whereever they like.” (form of an oath to the gods)

3. Conducted religious services and sacrifices at Olympia 4. Officiated Olympic contests and punished those for cheating 5. Awarded victories to champions

- Stadion in offseason was used to plant wheat or for grazing cattle - Skammata were dug during competition - Philosophers at the games

Herodutus performed his histories at Olympia Soon he became better known than the victors

Plato was humble at the games and did not speak of his high status (refer to passage) - Participation at the games: Real Aristocrat is the spectator, because they get to sit there and

watch and be entertained - Spectators had to endure labours as well

Everday labours while watching games: suffering, rain, shortage of water - Olympic festival day: 1

Morning: athletes are subject to examination by Hellanodakai for biological and socio-political status (examined age and physical development)

Philostratus, Gymnasticus 25: “The Olympic “judge of Greece” has to examine the boy athlete on the following points: whether he has a tribe and a native land, a father and a family, whether he belongs to the free citizens and is not a bastard, and finally, whether he is young and not past boyhood.”

Olympic Oath: in the Bouleuterion- Formal oath is administered in front of statue of Zeus.

- Olympic Festival day: 2

March of the Hellanodikai (judges come before athletes) Procession involves visitng 63 alters in the altis (religious aspect) Zeus fly averter: sacrificing to zeus to avoid being covered in flies

Horse events 1. Tethrippon (4 horse chariot race) 2. Kales (horseback race) 3. Synoris (2 horse chariot race)

Pentathlon (first of gymnikos agones – nude events)

Day 2 Concludes with Chthonic sacrifice to Pelops at his shirne in the Pelopeion. 2. Phyllabolia – victory lap while people throw ribbons and stuff

• Sculptures of the Phyllabola; what they took away 3. Day 3: Religious procession and feast

Procession of Hellanodikai, Athletes and offocial ambassadors of city-states.

Sacrifice of a hecatomb (100 oxen) on the ash altar of Zeus.

Thighs burned on the top of Ash-Altar, rest of the meat distributed to the crowds 4. Day 4: Gymnikos Agon Resume

Athlete procession from sactuary to stadion passing by zanes o Zanes were scultpures built to fine the athletes who cheated (had to pay zeus

for a statue if you cheated)

Dolichos, Stadion, Diaulos

Heavy Events; Pairing Selection – Choose from a bowl who you matched up against o Wrestling o Boxing o Pankration

Last EVENT: Hoplitodromos – Race in armour; an indication that was will resume after the games end

- Day 4: day of victory

Olive branches given out

Festival ends with a victory dinner given by Eleans to the newly crowned winners in the Prytaneion

- Olympic games: rites of passage

Pre-Liminal Phase: Separation from Community (30 Day Period of Training in Elis)

Liminal Phase: Period of Testing and Transition(Olympic Games)

Post-Liminal Phase: Re-integration into the Community (Eiselasis)

Individual Returns with new status. Lecture 14: Pythian Games at Delphi 2nd Panhellenic Crown Competition (Stephanitic Games)

- 2nd Major Panhellenic Crown Game - Held in Honor of the god Apollo- Son of Zeus and Leto

God of Prophecy, Music, and Performance

- Began in 586 BCE - Early Tripod Dedications at Delphi (Iron Age and Later)

Tripod corpus is smaller and less well preserved than at Olympia (But this does not mean less tripods were dedicated)

At Delphi the tripod was associated with the oracle so tripod dedication remained constant

Pythia (oracle at Delphi)

Began in 8th century

Greeks from all over came to consultoracle on civic and personal matters

Competeed with other oracles (especially oracle of zeus which gave its prophecies from the wind through the leaves of the sacred oak

- Mechanics of Consulting the Pythia (Priestess of Apollo)

Preliminary Sacrifice (to determine if god is willing)

Second Sacrifice inside the temple

Consultation of the Pythia in the Adyton (was very expensive to ask a question) Amphictyonic League -Panhellenic over Local

- Inter-State League dedicated to protecting and running sanctuary of Delphi - The First “Sacred War” (ca. 600-590BCE) over use of land between Delphi and the Gulf of

Corinth. Land that was declared “property of the god” and was to remain uncultivated - Victory of Amphictyonic League results in:

First Chrematistic (Money) Games: 591 or 586 BCE o Money games were built for the sake of money and wasn’t actually an athletic

competition (musical competition) o Money games developed into crown games o 1st contest- singing a Hymn to Apollo, Cretan won o Then- Harp, Flute, and Athletic Contests. (Pausanias 10.7.4)

First Stephanitic (Crown) Games: 582/581 BCE - Winner receives a Laurel Wreath Crown

Myth that apollo pursued a mortal woman name daphne before apollo seized her she prayed for deliverance and was transformed into laurel

Value is symbolic and not actual – wreath Events at Pythian Games

- Had gymnikos agon – same as Olympia - Had hippikos agon – same as Olympia - Had Mousikos Agon – musical competitions in honor of god Apollo (god of music and

performance)

Kithra (lyre) singing competitions (hymn to Apollo – wreath as prize)

Aulos (flute) competition Winner played during comp for pentathlon

Aulos (singing) competition – abolished in 582 BCE as it was too depressing

Kithara (playing) competition – 582 BCE

Competition in poetry (composition and performance) Temple of Apollo

- 1st archaeic temple was burnt down in 548 BCE (by Pausanias) - Rebuilt by Alkmeonidae Family (Contract not settled until 513 BCE) - Pediments:

Back- Gods vs. Giants

Front- Apollo Standing At Center, flanked by indivdiuals and Chariots (Compare with Pediments at Olympia)

- Destroyed by Earthquake in 373 Cylon Episode:

- Cylon sought refuge at the parthenon (temple as you can’t kill in temple), was guaranteed safe passage and killed the athenians led by the alkmaenoid familyCommited hubris as they sought him in a safe haven

- Athenians put curse on alkeaenoid family - Pesistroid family becomes tyrants of athens - 546-510 BCE; built temple of Athena on Acropolis as sign of Athenian (and Peisistratid) power - In retaliation, Alkmaeonids bribe Delphic Oracle, exploiting Sparta’s opposition to Tyrants. - Every response of oracle to Spartans: “First free Athens.” - Sparta ends Tyranny in Athens; Cleisthenes, an Alkmaeionid, “Father of Democracy” rises to

prominence in Athens. Treasuries- Housed Dedications to Apollo:

- Conspicuous display of wealth and power - Siphnian Treasury: ca 530 BCE - Siphnos- Island in Cyclades with rich deposits of gold and silver. - General Theme: Eris (Strife) - Front Pediment: Apollo on Chariot (with Artemis) - Back Pdeiment: Zeus with Herakles and Apollo struggling over Tripod.

Mythic Politics of Panhellenism: Apollo vs. Herakles • Herakles consults Delphic Oracle on Penance for murder of Iphytus. Oracle does not respond,

and Heracles destroys temple and attempts to steal Delphic Tripod in order to found his own oracle.

Athenian Treasury (construction from 504 – 470 BCE - commemorating Athenian Victory at Battle of Marathon 490 BCE (first major defeat of Persians

duringPersian war). - Depictions –Metopes- Life of Theseus; Labors of Herakles

Competition dedications at Delphi - Bronze charioteer

Dedicated by polyzalos (tyrant of Gela in Sicily)

Dedication of his chariot victory

Transfer major power from gela to syracuse in 478

Wearing a kiton (looks like a dress but isn’t – is a man) - Daochos

Dedicated statues of Agias, Agelaos, and others in 335 BCE.

Agelaos- victor in boys stadion, Delphi

Agias Pankration Victor at Olympia 484, 3x Delphi, 5x at Nemea and Isthmia.

Daochos: Delegate from Thessaly for Amphictyonic League (337-332 BCE - Kleobis and Biton or Discouri ----

Earliest existent athletic statues

Dedicated in 590 BCE

Dedicated by argives (city of argos)

Story: brothers carried their mom in a wagon when the oxen didn’t turn up (physical feat) and everyone saw so the mom prayed to ze gods that they could

have the best thing for men (death? Like wtf…) and they feasted then died. So the kouros is now a grave marker meant to represent body at absolute peak

- Treasuries: Siphnian Treasury, Athenian Treasury - Athletic dedications: Kleobis and Biton, Charioteer; Daochos dedication

Lecture 15: Isthmian Games: 3rd Festival in the Periodos

- Isthimian games are money games not crown Sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia

- Poseidon = brother of Zeus (god of sea and horses) - Earliest Evidence of Sanctuary: 1050 BCE - Burnt ash and bone and unburnt pottery - Ash also contained votive figurines and jewelry (but of less quantity and quality compared with

Olympia) - Focus of early sanctuary: ritual, communal dining; not competitive display of wealth (as at

Olympia). - Sanctuary between 2 worlds: Isthmian Pillar, ascribed to Theseus (Plutarch): “Here is not the

Peloponnese, but Ionia” “Here is not Ionia, but the Peloponnese (one side faces Ionia and one Peleponnese)

History of Corinth - City-State of Corinth controlled the Sanctuary of Isthmia - Dispute between Athens and Corinth over Megara leads to the first Peloponnesian War

(between Sparta and Athens) (460) - Corinthian War (395-386) Athens, Thebes, Corinth, Persia vs. Sparta and allies

Isthmian Games – 580 BCE - Held biannually (every 2 years) - Had mousikos agon, footraces, pentathlon, and pankratiasts and equestrian events - Victory crown was a pine

Changed to celery out of jealousy of nemean games - Stadion moved away from temple to accommodate more people (nothing to do with religion)

Mythic foundation of games: (melikertes/Palaimon) + Theseus Meikertes

- Hera drives her husband athamos insane, and he drives his baby off a cliff and as they fall they become divine (divinised)

- Ino throws herself and her son, Melikertes into the ocean. - Ino and Melikertes Transformed into sea gods - Mortal Body of Melikertes washed ashore near the Isthmus, and found by his uncle, Sisyphos

(Isthmos). - Isthmian Games founded by Sisyphos as funeral games in honor of Melikertes/ Palaemon.

Theseus - Heracles and Theseus are cousins - Mythic founding hero of Athens - Father: Aigeus, King of Athens or Poseidon? - Aithra – Mother of Theseus, granddaughter of Pelops - Apollodorus, Anthology p54: Aigeus left under a certain rock a sword and a pair of sandals and

told Aithra to send their son to him with the objects when he could roll aside the rock and retrieve them.

- Father leaves tokens for Theseus to find under a rock when he is strong enough

- Chose to travel to Athens by land as opposed to sea (harder as he wanted to be like Heracles) Labors of Theseus

1. killed Periphetes (Corynetes = Clubber) with his own club 2. Isthmus of Corinth, killed robber Sinis (Pityocamptes = pine bender). 3. Isthmus, Killed Crommyon Sow (Child of Typhaon and Echidna-like labors of Heracles 4. Cliffs of Sciron in Megara, Killed Sciron. Sciron had travellers wash his feet and then kicked them into the sea. Theseus did the same to him. 5. In Eleusis, Theseus killed Cercyon. Cercyon would force travellers to wrestle and killed them. Cercyon’s strength was based on touching the ground so Theseus lifted him from the ground and killed him. 6. Killed Procrustes, or Damastes or Polypemon.Procrustes forced travelers into a bed, if the bed was too short, he chopped off their legs, if the bed was too long he beat and stretched their bodies to the length of the bed. Theseus did the same to Procrustes - Procrustean standards = making people fit standards that are impossible to satisfy - Theseus was more a political hero while Heracles a cultural hero - Theseus killed minotaur - Theseues was credited with inventing wrestling as he was the first to use actual skill to win

Isthmian games – Funeral games? (alternate reason) - Sciron and Sinis were thought to be theseus’s cousins so the isthmian games might be in their

honour - Games went from more religious to spectacle

Similarities between Isthmia and Olympia - Temple of Poseidon was called the palaemion after theseus’s dad palaemon - Temple of zeus was called pelopean and pelops Heracles dad - Both were established out of anger of hera

Pindar’s Isthmian 1 - Wrote a poem for herodotus of thebes, winner of the chariot race (owner was charioteer) - Thebes = Mother city of Pindar and Herodotus - Pindar was in the process of creating a poem when he switched to write this one - Castor – Brother of Helen (of Troy): Charioteer of Sparta (Lacedaemon) - Iolaus – Nephew of Heracles; Charioteer in Thebes

And I wish to associate him [Herodotus] with a hymn to Castor or to (15) Iolaus, for they were born to be the mightiest of hero charioteers in Lacedaemon and in Thebes; and in the games they put their hands to the greatest number of contests, and graced their houses with tripods, cauldrons, and golden bowls; whenever they tasted the crowns of victory. Their excellence shines out with brightness in both naked races and in the contests where armed men run, their shields clattering; and also when they threw javelins from their hands, and when they flung discuses of stone for the pentathlon did not exist, but a prize was given for each event.

- The Reward of Victory or Price of Victory? - “Different rewards (payments-misthos) bring pleasure to men for different deeds:The

shepherd, the ploughman, the bird-trapper,The man whose livelihood is in the sea; For all men strain to keep persistent hunger from their bellies. But the greatest profit is earned by the man who wins a splendid glory in war or in the games, Through praise, which is the choicest address From the tongues of citizens and strangers

- Conclusion: “Don’t forget to pay me” - If a man keeps his wealth hidden indoors,Laughing scornfully at others, he does not realize

That he will render up his soul to Hades unattended by fame

- Saying you can’t die without glory (must pay pindar) Lecture 16: The Nemean Games: Finishing the Periodos (Cycle of Panhellenic Games) Nemean Games (nemea = to graze, was originally used for grazing cattle)

- Held in hounour of Nemean zeus (shepherd zeus) - Games conducted every 2 years - Added to stephanitic games (crown games) in 573 BCE - Controlled by small town of Kleonai

Foundation myths of nemean games o NEMEAN GAMES WERE NOT CONNECTED WITH HERACLES AND THE NEMEAN LION

- Myth of seven against Thebes o Oedipus killed his father and married mother o Discovers some truth and leaves thebes to his son-half brothers (polynices and Eteocles) o Brothers agree to rule thebes in alternate years o Eteocles refuses to step down so polynices attacks thebes with seven heros o All heros die except for Adrastus (former king of argos)

- Infant Opheltes o King of nemea had a son and oracle said to ensure health the infant couldn’t touch the

ground before he can walk o Seven heroes arrive seeking water o Nurse places baby down on celery and a snake eats the lil nugget o When seven discover dead baby the seven hold funeral games for him o Opheltes becomes known as archomenos (bringer of doom)

- Crown was made of celery figs (reminder of Opheltes) - Judges wore black robes in mourning of Opheltes - Old stadion was beside tomb of Opheltes - Tumulus = big grave mound (fake one in picture)

Temple of zeus

- Had extra long alter for sacrificing - Sacred area was called Epipola - Sacred grove of Cyprus trees – planting pits were discovered

History of Nemean games - Argos was an ally of Athens during the Athens Sparta war (peloponesian) - Temple of zeus was destroyed at nemea in 415 (war and earthquake) - Nemean games moved to argos (415-335) BCE - Games held in nemea (335 -271) - Games moved back to argos in 271 BCE

Stadion (was 450 meters away from temple of zeus at nemea) - Apodyterion at Nemea- Locker-Room/ Un-Dressing Room

o Connected to tunnel which led to stadion Baths at nemea

- Gloios – Oil, sweat, and dust (kept sold for high prices) – said to have healing ability, Pindar, Nemean 1

- For Chromius of Aetna (winner of chariot race, syrcusian general - First of nemean odes - Mythic story of Heracles protecting brother from snakes sent by hera

- Pindar relates strength through intelligence o Strength through action o Intelligence/ Understaning through advice from others

- Pindar saying son of Hagesidamus had strength AND intelligence - Strength attains its end through action And understanding through the advice of those who

have the natural talent to forsee the future. Son of Hagesidamus, it is in your nature to make use of both

Peridos = winner of all 4 (periodonikai) Olympia = Zeus and Pelops Isthmea = Poseidon and Melikertes Nemea = Zeus and Opheltes Pythian Games = only games more strictly in honor of Apollo without worship involved with cult of the dead. Isthmia and Nemea celebrate funeral games for children.

– Isthmia for Melikertes/Palaimon – Nemea for Opheltes/Archomenos

Lecture 17: Greek athletes as heroes

- Ancient greek hero o A religious figure

Dead human who received cult honours (thought to have supernatural powers) Dead hero gives back when receiving sacrifices and gifts

o Mortality of hero is key 1. Hero must suffer and die (be aware of death) 2. Hero must struggle against fear of death in order to achieve kleos 3. Heros were gifted with honours (songs and cult worship) to compensate for death o Heros were defined by physical superiority but not moral

- Achilles was a hero and came back as a ghost demanding a human sacrifice (Poor old polyxena)

- Pelops is a hero even though he cheated nd killed a man to win the race - Heracles was a hero

o Killed accidentally by his last wife Deianeria (man-destroyer) with a poisoned shirt o Thought she was giving him a love potion but wasn’t o Thought to become immortalized upon death o Heracles become immortal (apotheosis) and marries youth (Hebe)

- Theseus was a hero (even though he abducted women) o Killed minotaur and freed Athens o 6 labours o Grave was found in bronze age and brought back to Athens where he received cult

worship

• Olympia 776 BCE (Stadion) – Every 4 years • Delphi 586 BCE /582 Stephanitic – Every 4

years • Isthmian Games 580 BCE –Every 2 Years • Nemean Games 573 BCE- Every 2 Years

• Sample cycle: 480 BCE

480 – Olympia 479 – Nemea 478 – Isthmia

478- Delphi 477 – Nemea 476 – Isthmia

476 -Olympia

o Died in non-heroic way (thrown off cliff while in exile) o Inventor of techne (science) of wrestling because he used intelligence (sophia) rather

than strength (Pausanias) o Pausanias, description of Gymnasium in Messene, Greece:“The statues in the

gymnasium are the work of Egyptian artists. They represent Hermes, Heracles and Theseus, who are honored in the gymnasium and wrestling-ground according to a practice universal among Greeks, and now common among barbarians

o Every greek athlete worships Hermes (half god), Heracles (god) and Theseus (not a god)

- Oebotas of Dyme o First athlete of Achaea to win Olympic event (stadion in 756 BCE) o Statue set up by achaens by oracles command o Was first victor but wasn’t worshipped so he put a curse on achaeans to never win again o Oracle told them to honour him and then another boy wins as a result o Tradition now that they must place wreath at his statue

- Hipposthenes of Sparta (7th century) o First Olympic victory in boys wrestling o 6x Olympic victor in wrestling from Sparta o Pausanias 3.15.7 (Sparta): “Near is a temple of Hipposthenes, who won so many

victories in wrestling. They worship Hipposthenes in accordance with an oracle, paying him honors as to Poseidon.”

o Worshipped not as a mortal, but a god as well - Milo of Kroton (6th century)

o 31 panhellinic crown victories over 24 years o Lifted a calf evry day until it was a bull (founded progressive resistance training) o Carried bull around stadium, killed it and ate it o Carried his own statue into altis (sacred area of Olympia) o Lost in last Olympic games but was still worshipped after by crowd o Died as a function of his own strength

Tried to split open a tree trunk and got stuck and was eaten by wolves o NEVER RECEIVED CULT WORSHIP

- Glaukos of Karystos (6th century) o Olympic victor and Peridonikes (won all 4 games) o Famous for his “plough touch” (as he once straightened a plough by punching it) which

gave him strength in the games and allowed him to win - Kleomedes of Astypalaia

o Killed his opponenet in boxing and was disqualified o In a rage he pulled down a pillar of a school causing it to kill 60 children o Fled town and hid in a chest in sanctuary of Athena o When people opened the chest he had disappeared o People consulted oracle who said he was the last of the heros and should be

worshipped - Theagenes of Thasos

o Extreme strength as a child (carried a statue around) o Had a statue and one of his enemies whipped it every night and the statue fell and killed

the man o Statue was accused of murder and thrown into sea

o Famine takes over Thasos (city) so they consult the oracle who says they must recall all their exiles

o Get statue of theagenes back and now worship him as a god Have to give statue $3.66 until they reach $22,000 which they will then use to

fix the statue - Poulydamas Of Skotus

o Was a pankratiast victor o Impelled to rival labours of Heracles

Killed a lion with bare hands Pulled a hoof off a bull Killed 3 persian special forces

o His statue had healing powers o Died because of own strength (similar to milo)

Cave began to collapse and he thought he could hold it up (died)

- Progressive decline ( the athletes of today are nothing compared to those in the past) - Philostratus’ Gymnasticus- “Ages of Athletes”220’s CE, Demise of Ancient Athletics: For the old

athletic training used to make Milos and Hippostheneses, and Pouludamases, and Promachoses and Glaukos son of Demulos, and also athletes before them, Peleus, and Theseus, and Herakles himself. But athletic training in the time of our fathers knew lesser men, but still amazing and worthy of recollection. But the training that has been established now has harmed the affairs of athletes so much that many are burdened by those who take delight in athletic training.

- 1st Age of Athletes: Greek Male Identity o Heracles wrestles Nemean Lion o Theseus wrestles Cercyon o Peleus wrestles sea-goddess Thetis o (Parents of mythic hero Achilles)

- 2nd Age of Athletes: o Historical Athletes who are worshipped in cult and seek to imitate the first generation.

- 3rd Generation- “Fathers” worse than earlier generation, but still good. - Present Age – All Bad

Lecture 18: Gymnasion Culture

- Pailastra = gymnasion o Was essentially a school as there were music lessons,

training lessons and reading lessons o Only allowed for men (they were naked) o Gym was publically funded by city

- Ephebian = place for the youths - Gymnasion at Delphi

o Xystos – Covered Practice track o Paradromis – Outdoor practice track Beside the xystos. o Weren’t always naked when practiced (refer to Illiad

quote) - Nakedness came from Orsippus of Megara

o Loin cloth fell off when running and he won o Nudity defined the greek culture (was a greek thing)

- Lacedaemonians = spartans

- Strigil – Stlengis o Used to scrape oil off the body (reminded athletes to put on sunscreen) o Became such a symbol that they were dedicated to the gods o Were markers of athleticism o Could be used to kill (if coach held one then it was sign of authority over athlete)

- Bottle of Oil -aryballos - Gymnasiarchos – leader of the gymnasium (between 40 and 60 years old

o Elected annually (paid the most) - Paidonomos – Decides who graduates (Over 40 years old) - Didaskalos – teacher (of writing and reading) - Paidotribês – physical trainer (athletic education of child) - Kitharistes – Kitharina player/Instructer (in charge of musical education)

o Paidotribe is a pe instructor (basic training while the gymnastes is a professional coach Gods and heroes of the gym

- 3 main ones 1. Heracles (God) 2. Theseus (man) 3. Hermes (half-god)

Hermes-God of Athletic Youth: AND MONEY AND ANIMALS … and metis Had a desire for meat which is weird since gods eat nectar and ambrosia (steals

cattle of Apollo when he is one day old) Sacifice of apollos cattle is an athletic accomplishment (baby hermes was killing

cows) Hermes teaches art of wrestling Hermes invented technology to create fire while prometheus stole it from zeus

- Hermaia – athltic contests for youth (young boys) throughout greece Kouros vs. Herm

- Herm is more ity specific - Herme is more civic while kouros is aristocratic - Kouros is more elite while herme is egalitarian (public education and athletics provided by city) - Having a small penis = self control (kouros) Vs the herme which has no body at all and a large

penis (no self control) Lecture 19: Prestige and Democracy in sport

- Sport has vertical (hierarchy) and horizontal (democracy) social relations

Crown game reproduce vertical social relations within and between greek city states

Horizontal relations also created out of community with fellow competitiors - 621 BCE: Dracon’s Law code: death for virtually every crime. - 594 BCE : Solon’s Reforms. Seiasachtheia- “Shaking off of burdens”

Solomon got rid of all debts

banned export of grain (only wealthy could export grain so grain stayed within country to feed citizens) (Only olive oil exported)

Early Democracy: 9 archons elected each year, with one chief archon (jury was land owning white

males juries of all citizens (land owning males) to balance power

- Eupatridai: ruling elite - 499-449 BCE: Greco-Persian Wars

- 431-404 BCE: Peloponnesian War [Athens vs. Sparta] - 404-370 BCE Spartan Hegemony

Panathenia = athenea specific festival (5th most athletic competition) - Unique events to panathenia

Apobates = dismount and jump back on Recreated Homeric warfare Only in AThens

- In honor of Athena, daughter of Zeus, Goddess of War and Wisdom, patron of Athens. - Celebrated every 4 years (in competition with Olympics)

Lesser Panathenaia celebrated every year - 566 BCE: Panathenaic Agon begins

Musical and Dramatic contests days 1-3.

Day 4-5 gymnastic events.

Day 6 Equestrian and cavalry events in Agora.

Day 7 open chariot and horse races in the hippodrome.

Day 8- citizen only tribal events (mortly team sports)

Day 8 night – Torch Race and Pannychis

Day 9- Religious culmination with procession, sacrifice of 100 oxen and a meat feast. (entire city partakes in feast)

Solon’s Athletic Reforms (590 BCE): - Athenian Olympic Victors get paid 500 drachmas – ( equivalent of $340,000 in our time for

equivalent of Archaic Athens ). - Athenian Olympic Victors get 100 Drachmas for Isthmian Victories - Free meals for life: Sistesis - 561 BCE: Peisistratus becomes Tyrant of Athens, uses the Panathenaic games to increase his

own prestige and that of the city. Prizes at the Panathenaia Chrematitic (Money) Games (weren’t zero-sum games – there were 1st 2nd 3rd)

- Money for musical performances - Vases of olive oil for gymnastic and equestrian events

Olive tree was sacred to Athena

Contest over Athens where Poseidon gives athen salt water and Athena the olive tree (which is way more resourceful)

Oil is equivalent to money as it was the only export (grain was banned)

100 amphoras of oil = 1200 drachmas - Amphoras (vases of olive oil)

Rewarded victors and promoted state interest (olive oil)

Most olive oil vases were footraces and chariot races Tribal Team Contests:

- Pyrrhic Dance • Dance in Armor, began at least in 566 BCE. • Athena said to have done a Pyrrhuc War Dance after being born from the head of Zeus, and

also after defeating the Titans. (dedicated to Athena) • Sponsored by single, wealthy individual (choregos)

- Euandria

Prize for the Euandria: 100 drachmas and an ox for the tribe

Contest for size, strength, and beauty.

Was A TEAM COMPETITION (EVERYONE OF THE TRIBE WINS AS WELL) - Torch Race

Contest is to be able to keep torch lit

Starts at alter of Prometheus as he stole fire (from zeus

And one Ox and 100 Drachmas for the Tribe

From alter of EROS (desire/love) to ANTEROS (vengeance) - Panathenaic “Contest of Ships”

Prize: First – 300 drachmas, 3 oxen, and 200 more drachmas for a feast of the tribe.

Originated after 300 BCE

Like rowing Last day = Panathenaic procession

- Goal is to become one community (from individual to community) - Hetacomb sacrifice at alter of Athena (100 oxen)

Meat distributed to Athenian citizens Lecture 20: Spartaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

- Spartan society had a vision of stability, hierarchy and order

Unlike Athens which was democracy and control (freedom) - Perioikoi, “dwellers around” – independent villages around Sparta that paid tribute to the city-

state.

Helots – Laconians who became slaves to Spartan citizens. - Full Spartan Citizens – Called Spartiates. - 740-720 BCE Messenian War- Sparta makes Messenians Helots.

Spartan government: - Four political institutions

1. Kings – controlled war and religion (2 kings from two families – Agiads and Eurypontiads)

2. Council of elders: controlled law (28 members) 3. Council of Ephors (overseers) ensured fairplay and only went in for 1 year (oversaw

council) 4. Assembly (all spartiate males over 30) – chose elders and Ephors

Lycargus – founder of Spartan way (ancient form of communism) - All his reforms were directed towards the three Spartan virtues: equality (among citizens),

military fitness, and austerity - Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus: “He persuaded his fellow citizens to group all properties together into

a common lot and to redistribute them anew. He would proceed on the principle that there was no difference between one man and the next, except that established by blame for shameful behavior and praise for good behavior.”

- Divided Laconia into 30,000 lots. - Abolished gold and silver and replaced with large, worthless iron rods (more money = more

space, physically burdensome to carry) - Introduced common meals (everyone ate together, rich or poor)

- Agoge = athletic education

Also a preparation for war

One male figure in charge of all the boys who then was replaced by one of the other youths (preparation for strict hierarchies involved in military)

- Violent team contests

Sphairomachia : “Ball Battle” – in honor of Herakles

Platanistas (Plane-tree grove) game: two groups of boys on island and one group tried to kick the other off the island by pushing, kicking, biting, gouging

Whipping at the Altar of Artemis Orthia (Upright Artemis) - Alter demands human blood - Lycargus implemented lashing of children at altar - Alternate story: children were underfed to encourage stealing and then they had to steal

cheese. If they were caught they were whipped

- Spartans dominated in Olympics in early 7th century but declined in the 6th and5th century

attributed to mythological reason (spartans weren’t allowed in combat events – boxing

pankration and wrestling)

gave them opportunity to quit so they weren’t allowed in these events (spartans

weren’t allowed to quit)

Lecture 21: Eros and Athletics (Eros = desire/love)

- Erastês – The Lover, Desirer, Adult Male

- Eromenos – The Beloved, Desired, Pais (Youth)

- Diamêrizein – Copulation between the thighs

- Initiation: Has to be an actual change in the person initiated (change their status)

Ordeal, wakefulness, suffering silence, isolation, wandering and terror. (things aren’t

equal)

Close connection with ruling deities of the group. (Team bonding)

Presence of male authority figure as guide. (One dude trains the youngins)

Submission and obedience to that authority. (Youngins have to listen to that dude)

- Pelops had become Poseidon’s boy toy (refer to quote)

- Pelops was not chopped up and eaten but was taken away by Poseidon (Poseidon loves him for

his beauty)

- Pelops returns after poseidon takes him away (unlike Ganymede)

- Becomes a man and then gets to go through another rite of passage (marriage)

- Zeus did the same for a boy called Ganymede

Stole him for his beauty and made him immortal (and his own wine boy)

Olympian 1: Pederasty and Reciprocity

- “If the delightful gifts of Cypris (Aphrodite) can give rise to gratitude (charis),Then come, shackle

the bronze spear of Oenomaus,Send me on the swiftest chariots to Elis, And bring me the power

to be victorious.Thirteen suitors has Oenomaus killed, And this way delays the marriage of his

daughter. Cowards do not seek out great risks; Men must die, so why should anyone crouch in

darkness, Aimlessly nursing an undistinguished old age, Without a share in glorious deeds? This

contest is meant for me; now give me the success I desire.”

- Pindar saying poseidon helped pelops win as opposed to pelops killing the chariot guy

- Reciprical relationship with god as pelops helped poseidon so poseidon should help him

- Pederasty = relationship between older man and greek boy

- Paideia = education

- Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus: “Lycurgus would not allow that the children of Spartiates be turned

over to purchased or rented tutors, nor was a father allowed to rear his child as he pleased.

Instead, when a child reached the age of seven, Lycurgus took him and enrolled him in a tro0p

where through sharing a common discipline and nurture the children learned to play together

and study together. . Education became a practice in obedience

- Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus: At this age (12), young men of good birth began to court them as

lovers. The older men, too, paid close attention and came frequently to the gymnasia…This was

no idle interest because the men felt that, in some way, they too were the fathers, tutors, and

commanders of the boys.

- Disgrace or glory of youth goes to the older man

- Didn’t just punish the boy but also the lover as he is responsible for the boy and his training

Example is passage whgere youth lets out a cry so lover is fined as well

- Women had these homosocial relationships

- No rivalry, as two people or more could love the same child

- Foreignors couldn’t love youth

Harmodius and Aristogeiton “Tyrant Killers”

- Tyrants are Hipparchus and hippias

Harmodius is eromenos (in love with) of Aristogeiton and rejects Hipparchus.

-Hipparchus denies sister of Harmodius to take part in Panathenaic Procession (insult)

-Harmodius and Aristogeiton retaliate – murder Hipparchus, Hippias survives.

- Hermaia- Civic Initiation

- Hermes- God of Rites of Passage and Transition

2 Age Groups:

Youths (ageneioi, 17-20)

Boys (Paides (13-16)

Lecture 21: women and athletics

- Sparta was one of the only places where women athletics was advanced and exploited

- Showed equality for men and women

- Made women compete in sports to make them tough specifically for childbirth

- Women participated in something similar to the agoge (spartan training) – also trained in the

nude

- Kyniska- First Female Olympic Victor

Won four horse chariot race for sparta in 396 and 392 BCE

Some say it wasn’t skill but money that made her win

No female participation outside of pelopennese

Temple of Hera

- Earliest temple structure at Olympia

- Heraia – Agon for Hera at Olympia (footrace for women – was shorter than mens) – 6th

century

- In honourof hera

Women only competition at Olympia

Created by hippodemaia (pelops wife who he won at the chariot race)

Alternate creation myth is that the heraia were created by the sixteen women

Female equivalent of the hellanodikai (male judges)

Sixteen Women perform choral dance for Physcoa, mortal lover of Dionysos,

who gave birth to child, Narcaius.

Pausanias, Description of Greece, 5.16.2-3: Every fourth year the women weave a peplos

[robe] for Hera. These same women also hold an agon called the Heraia. The agon

consists of a footrace for maidens. Indeed not all girls of the same age compete, but the

youngest run first, and after these the girls next oldest, and finally whoever are the

oldest of the maidens.