The Ancient Olympics
- ISBN-10
- 0191655414
- ISBN-13
- 9780191655418
- Category
- History
- Pages
- 320
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2012-06-14
- Publisher
- OUP Oxford
- Author
- Nigel Spivey
Description
The word 'athletics' is derived from the Greek verb 'to struggle for a prize'. After reading this book, no one will see the Olympics as a graceful display of Greek beauty again, but as war by other means. Nigel Spivey paints a portrait of the Greek Olympics as they really were - fierce contests between bitter rivals, in which victors won kudos and rewards, and losers faced scorn and even assault. Victory was almost worth dying for, and a number of athletes did just that. Many more resorted to cheating and bribery. Contested always bitterly and often bloodily, the ancient Olympics were not an idealistic celebration of unity, but a clash of military powers in an arena not far removed from the battlefield.
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