Exploring the Ancient Olympics: Beyond Sports and Glory

Exploring the Ancient Olympics: Beyond Sports and Glory

The world is preparing once again to gather around screens and, for the lucky, in stands to watch the Olympic Summer Games. While the modern Olympics are renowned for their athletic feats, a tour through early texts show they hold a deeper, more diverse history than commonly known. Beyond physical competition, they were a hub of cultural, political and artistic expression in ancient Greece.

The curious can delve into the original spirit of ancient games with Early English Books Online, a vast digital archive from ProQuest^™, part of Clarivate^™. This collection grants unparalleled access to over 146,000 works printed in English prior to 1700. It uncovers the authentic perspectives of early writers on the Games, untainted by contemporary interpretations.

Rediscovering Literary Triumphs

Among the works in Early English Books Online is Edward Phillips' Theatrum Poetarum, which sheds light on lesser-known aspects of the ancient Olympics. Published in 1675, Phillips reveals how Suidas, primarily a comic poet, surprisingly won the Games five times as the sole victor. Additionally, Phillips highlights how Euphorion and Bion, the sons of literary giant Aeschylus, gained recognition for their poetic talents through performances at the Olympics. These insights expand our understanding of the Olympics, emphasizing intellectual and artistic achievements celebrated in ancient competitions.

For more on Theatrum Poetarum, Or, A Compleat Collection of the Poets especially the most Eminent, of all Ages, the Antients Distinguish't from the Moderns in their several Alphabets, visit:
https://www.proquest.com/books/theatrum-poetarum-compleat-collection-poets/docview/2240970107/se-2

Insights from Ancient Texts

Ancient Greek satirist Lucian vividly portrays the Olympic Games in his work, Charon. These accounts, accessible through Early English Books Online, detail not only the sporting events but also the profound cultural significance surrounding victors. Lucian describes the Games, held every four years in the fields adjoining Olympia, where athletes from across Greece competed in running, wrestling, hurling, horse-racing and more. Victors were crowned and publicly honored, returning home to receive lifelong accolades, highlighting the enduring prestige attached to Olympic achievements.

For Lucian's Charon: or, A Survey of the Follies of Mankind Translated from the Greek, click here:
https://www.proquest.com/books/lucians-charon-survey-follies-mankind-translated/docview/2240883736/se-2

Chronicles of Olympic History

Explore the preservation of Olympic chronology by the Eleans, which spans nearly 900 years from Iphitus to Emperor Nero without gaps. Found in Edward Lively's A True Chronologie (1597), these records recount fascinating stories. One notable tale revolves around Oebotas, an athlete from Achaea who achieved victory during the sixth Olympiad and was the first Achaean champion - a milestone for his region. When his countrymen failed to honor his victory, Oebotas cursed them. Subsequently, Achaean athletes faced a long losing streak. During the 80th Olympia, the community had enough of curses and erected a statue honoring Oebotas and his victory. After that, it became customary for Achaeans competing in the Olympics to make a sacrifice to him. This enduring act highlights the profound legacy of the ancient Olympics, where athletic achievements were not merely events but integral aspects of societal honor and remembrance.

For more on A True Chronologie of the Times of the Persian Monarchie, visit
https://www.proquest.com/books/true-chronologie-times-persian-monarchie-after/docview/2240926667/se-2

Interested in the historic gossip of the times?

Aelian's perspective on the ancient 'Olympicks', written around 175 AD offers invaluable historical insights into the nature, organization and significance of the Olympics during antiquity. He includes in his work Claudius Ælianus, his various history,

• The Wrestler's Last Stand: Imagine the scene: a wrestler from Crotona, muscles still gleaming from combat, collapses before the victory wreath can grace his brow. Aelian captures this heart-wrenching moment in Book IX, Chapter XXXI, a stark reminder of life's fragile balance between triumph and tragedy. It's a tale that tugs at the heartstrings, showing us that even in the glory of victory, fate can be unforgiving.
• Berenice's Bold Move: Now, turn the page to Book X, Chapter I, where Berenice steps out of the shadows of societal norms. Defying the ban on female spectators, she's there in the stands, cheering for her son with a rebel's heart. This story isn't just about breaking rules; it's about a mother's love that knows no bounds, a testament to the enduring spirit of women who dared to claim their place in history.
• The Athenian's Threat: And in Chapter XVIII, we find an Athenian master so irate with his servant that he'd rather drag him to the sweltering Olympic stands than to the grind of the mill. It's a humorous anecdote that paints the Olympics as both a coveted experience and an amusingly dreaded ordeal, highlighting the event's deep-seated importance in Greek life, where even the sun's relentless blaze is part of the spectacle.

For Aelian's Claudius Ælianus, His various History, explore more here:
https://www.proquest.com/books/claudius-ælianus-his-various-history/docview/2240872503/se-2

Early English Books Online (EEBO) is an essential resource for scholars and libraries seeking to delve into the rich tapestry of human history. It offers access to a vast collection of historical texts, providing invaluable insights into ancient civilizations, including the many angles of the Olympics. Scholars can explore rare primary sources that chronicle not only the athletic prowess but also the cultural, political, and artistic dimensions of the ancient Games.

So this summer, as audiences around the globe tune into the live broadcasts, we invite you to also discover their timeless stories preserved in historical texts. From the intellectual triumphs chronicled in Theatrum Poetarum to the vivid portrayals of athletic feats in Lucian's Charon and the meticulous chronicles of Olympic history in Lively's A True Chronologie, each narrative unveils a new story of human achievement, spirit and honor.

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