Classical Studies 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Stylianos Kyriakides, 1896 Summer Olympics, Spyridon Louis

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2300
• Professor: Charles Stocking

Document Summary

Athletes are considered similar to gods (god-like): receive sacrificial portions. Significant that the athletes had honor to offer gods. Sacrifice in ancient greek context is different. Racing contest is actually for hector"s life. The gods look on and are spectators in the sport. Introduces problem between the relationship of sacrifice and athletics. Achilles himself is somewhat of a metaphorical cannibal. Athletes are closer to gods than regular people. Talks about sacrifice he puts in as an athlete. Often feels like he wants to just quit/die. Origins are that it will actually include other people to participate. Idea of inviting all of greece to participate. Dolichos (distance race) (720 bce) origins in war. Could have been 20-24 laps of stadion. Very difficult race lots of cuts. People that were announcing war had to train this way all the time. Decided who had the best messenger for war.