The Ancient Olympics
Author(s): Nigel Spivey
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.
Product Information
Foreword to the New Edition; Overture; 1. 'War Minus the Shooting'; 2. In Training for Beautiful Goodness; 3. The Programme of Agony; 4. Sweet Victory; 5. The Politics of Contest; 6. Olympia: The Origins; 7. Olympia: The Afterlife; Epilogue; Sources and Further Reading; Index
General Fields
- :
- : Oxford University Press
- : Oxford University Press
- : 0.336
- : 30 April 2012
- : 196mm X 129mm
- : United Kingdom
- : 01 June 2012
- : books
Special Fields
- : Nigel Spivey
- : Paperback
- : 796.480938
- : 320
- : 40 black and white halftones, 3 maps and figures