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This title in other editionsThe Ancient Olympics: A Historyby Nigel Spivey
Synopses & ReviewsPlease note that used books may not include additional media (study guides, CDs, DVDs, solutions manuals, etc.) as described in the publisher comments.
Publisher Comments:The word "athletics" is derived from the Greek verb "to struggle or to suffer for a prize." As Nigel Spivey reveals in this engaging account of the Olympics in ancient Greece, "suffer" is putting it mildly. Indeed, the Olympics were not so much a graceful display of Greek beauty as a war fought by other means. Nigel Spivey paints a portrait of the Greek Olympics as they really were — fierce contexts between bitter rivals, in which victors won kudos and rewards, and losers faced scorn and even assault. Victory was almost worth dying for, the author notes, 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. The author explores what the events were, the rules for competitors, training and diet, the pervasiveness of cheating and bribery, the prizes on offer, the exclusion of "barbarians," and protocols on pederasty. He also peels back the mythology surrounding the games today and investigates where our current conception of the Olympics has come from and how the Greek notions of beauty and competitiveness have influenced our modern culture. As a Cambridge classicist and athletics coach, Nigel Spivey is uniquely qualified to write this eye-opening account of the Greek Olympics. Anyone interested in the ancient world or in the Olympic games will be fascinated by this revealing history. Review:"In a deft analysis of the rise and fall of the games at Olympia, Spivey fashions a text that varies in tone from professorial to conversational....An essential resource: always reliable and instructive, often entertaining." Kirkus Reviews Review:"Despite some analytical passages that might challenge the nonspecialist, The Ancient Olympics is a thoughtful and approachable history." Aram Goudsouzian, The Boston Globe Review:"[A] lively and accessible treatment....It quickly becomes apparent that the similarities between the ancient and the modern games are at best superficial; it is the difference that makes for interest." Mark Miller, Wall Street Journal Review:"This is a delightful tour through ancient Greece with plenty for the sports-minded, historian, Greek scholar and linguist. And just in time for the Athens Games." Jules Wagman, St. Petersburg Times Synopsis: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. About the AuthorNigel Spivey teaches the classics at Cambridge University. He is the author of Understanding Greek Sculpture: Ancient Meanings, Modern Readings, Greek Art, Etruscan Art, and Enduring Creation: Art, Pain, and Fortitude. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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