The Olympic Games The First Thousand Years

by Finley, M. I.; Pleket, H. W.

• ISBN13: 9780486444253
• ISBN10: 0486444252
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-01
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

A definitive survey of the Olympic games, from 776 B.C. to A.D. 261, this scholarly, yet immensely readable account of Olympic athletes in ancient times takes a highly realistic view of these fabled contests. Transporting readers back to the eighth century B.C., Professor M. I. Finley and Dr. H. W. Pleket draw upon their extensive knowledge of the ancient world to explain in absorbing detail the various sporting events and their historical, social, and religious context. They also detail the similarities and differences between ancient and modern games.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Plates	viii
Acknowledgements	xii
A Note on Greek Measures of Distance and Money Values	xiii
Table of Dates	xiv
Ancient and Modern	1	(13)
Games and Festivals	14	(12)
The Olympic Programme	26	(21)
Spectators and Facilities	47	(12)
Rules and Officials	59	(9)
The Athletes	68	(15)
Training and Trainers	83	(15)
Games, Politics and Patronage	98	(15)
The Critics	113	(15)
Epilogue	128	(5)
Index	133