Contemporary Athletics and Ancient Greek Ideals

Contemporary Athletics and Ancient Greek Ideals

Author: Daniel A. Dombrowski

Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com

Published: 2010-10-21

Total Pages: 282

ISBN-13: 1459605926

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Despite their influence in our culture, sports inspire dramatically less philosophical consideration than such ostensibly weightier topics as religion, politics, or science. Arguing that athletic playfulness coexists with serious underpinnings, and that both demand more substantive attention, Daniel Dombrowski harnesses the insights of ancient G...


Book Synopsis Contemporary Athletics and Ancient Greek Ideals by : Daniel A. Dombrowski

Download or read book Contemporary Athletics and Ancient Greek Ideals written by Daniel A. Dombrowski and published by ReadHowYouWant.com. This book was released on 2010-10-21 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite their influence in our culture, sports inspire dramatically less philosophical consideration than such ostensibly weightier topics as religion, politics, or science. Arguing that athletic playfulness coexists with serious underpinnings, and that both demand more substantive attention, Daniel Dombrowski harnesses the insights of ancient G...


Athletics and Philosophy in the Ancient World

Athletics and Philosophy in the Ancient World

Author: Heather L. Reid

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-01-02

Total Pages: 174

ISBN-13: 1317984951

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This book examines the relationship between athletics and philosophy in ancient Greece and Rome focused on the connection between athleticism and virtue. It begins by observing that the link between athleticism and virtue is older than sport, reaching back to the athletic feats of kings and pharaohs in early Egypt and Mesopotamia. It then traces the role of athletics and the Olympic Games in transforming the idea of aristocracy as something acquired by birth to something that can be trained. This idea of training virtue through the techniques and practice of athletics is examined in relation to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Then Roman spectacles such as chariot racing and gladiator games are studied in light of the philosophy of Lucretius, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. The concluding chapter connects the book’s ancient observations with contemporary issues such as the use of athletes as role models, the relationship between money and corruption, the relative worth of participation and spectatorship, and the role of females in sport. The author argues that there is a strong link between sport and philosophy in the ancient world, calling them offspring of common parents: concern about virtue and the spirit of free enquiry. This book was previously published as a special issue of the Ethics and Sport.


Book Synopsis Athletics and Philosophy in the Ancient World by : Heather L. Reid

Download or read book Athletics and Philosophy in the Ancient World written by Heather L. Reid and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-01-02 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the relationship between athletics and philosophy in ancient Greece and Rome focused on the connection between athleticism and virtue. It begins by observing that the link between athleticism and virtue is older than sport, reaching back to the athletic feats of kings and pharaohs in early Egypt and Mesopotamia. It then traces the role of athletics and the Olympic Games in transforming the idea of aristocracy as something acquired by birth to something that can be trained. This idea of training virtue through the techniques and practice of athletics is examined in relation to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Then Roman spectacles such as chariot racing and gladiator games are studied in light of the philosophy of Lucretius, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. The concluding chapter connects the book’s ancient observations with contemporary issues such as the use of athletes as role models, the relationship between money and corruption, the relative worth of participation and spectatorship, and the role of females in sport. The author argues that there is a strong link between sport and philosophy in the ancient world, calling them offspring of common parents: concern about virtue and the spirit of free enquiry. This book was previously published as a special issue of the Ethics and Sport.


Sport, Bodily Culture and Classical Antiquity in Modern Greece

Sport, Bodily Culture and Classical Antiquity in Modern Greece

Author: Eleni Fournaraki

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-06-03

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 1317979737

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Ancient Greece was the model that guided the emergence of many facets of the modern sports movement, including most notably the Olympics. Yet the process whereby aspects of the ancient world were appropriated and manipulated by sport authorities of nation-states, athletic organizations and their leaders as well as by sports enthusiasts is only very partially understood. This volume takes modern Greece as a case-study and explores, in depth, issues related to the reception and use of classical antiquity in modern sport, spectacle and bodily culture. For citizens of the Greek nation-state, classical antiquity is not merely a vague "legacy" but the cornerstone of their national identity. In the field of sport and bodily culture, since the 1830s there had been persistent attempts to establish firm and direct links between ancient Greek athletics and modern sport through the incorporation of sport in school curricula, the emergence of national sport historiographies as well as the initiatives to revive (in the 19th century) or appropriate (in the 20th) the modern Olympics. Based on fieldwork and unpublished material sources, this book dissects the use and abuse of classical antiquity and sport in constructing national, gender and class identities, and illuminate aspects of the complex modern perceptions of classicism, sport and the body. This book was previously published as a special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport.


Book Synopsis Sport, Bodily Culture and Classical Antiquity in Modern Greece by : Eleni Fournaraki

Download or read book Sport, Bodily Culture and Classical Antiquity in Modern Greece written by Eleni Fournaraki and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-06-03 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ancient Greece was the model that guided the emergence of many facets of the modern sports movement, including most notably the Olympics. Yet the process whereby aspects of the ancient world were appropriated and manipulated by sport authorities of nation-states, athletic organizations and their leaders as well as by sports enthusiasts is only very partially understood. This volume takes modern Greece as a case-study and explores, in depth, issues related to the reception and use of classical antiquity in modern sport, spectacle and bodily culture. For citizens of the Greek nation-state, classical antiquity is not merely a vague "legacy" but the cornerstone of their national identity. In the field of sport and bodily culture, since the 1830s there had been persistent attempts to establish firm and direct links between ancient Greek athletics and modern sport through the incorporation of sport in school curricula, the emergence of national sport historiographies as well as the initiatives to revive (in the 19th century) or appropriate (in the 20th) the modern Olympics. Based on fieldwork and unpublished material sources, this book dissects the use and abuse of classical antiquity and sport in constructing national, gender and class identities, and illuminate aspects of the complex modern perceptions of classicism, sport and the body. This book was previously published as a special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport.


Athletics and Games of the Ancient Greeks

Athletics and Games of the Ancient Greeks

Author: Edward Marwick Plummer

Publisher:

Published: 1898

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Athletics and Games of the Ancient Greeks by : Edward Marwick Plummer

Download or read book Athletics and Games of the Ancient Greeks written by Edward Marwick Plummer and published by . This book was released on 1898 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals

Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals

Author: E. Norman Gardiner

Publisher: Read Books Ltd

Published: 2020-08-14

Total Pages: 598

ISBN-13: 1528790944

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First published in 1910, this book explores the subject of athletics festivals in ancient Greece, looking in detail at its history as well as the exercises commonly seen at such occasions. “Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals” is highly recommend for those with an interest in athletics and is not to be missed by collectors of related literature. Contents include: “Introductory”, “Athletics in Homer”, “The Rise of the Athletic Festival”, “The Age of Athletic Festivals, Sith Century B.C.”, “The Age of Athletic Ideal, 500–440 B.C.”, “Professionalism and Specialization, 440–338 B.C.”, “The Decline of Athletics, 338–146 B.C.”, “Athletics Under the Romans”, “The Olympic Festival, etc. Macha Press is republishing this classic work now in a new edition complete with the extract 'Classical Games' by Francis Storr.


Book Synopsis Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals by : E. Norman Gardiner

Download or read book Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals written by E. Norman Gardiner and published by Read Books Ltd. This book was released on 2020-08-14 with total page 598 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1910, this book explores the subject of athletics festivals in ancient Greece, looking in detail at its history as well as the exercises commonly seen at such occasions. “Greek Athletic Sports and Festivals” is highly recommend for those with an interest in athletics and is not to be missed by collectors of related literature. Contents include: “Introductory”, “Athletics in Homer”, “The Rise of the Athletic Festival”, “The Age of Athletic Festivals, Sith Century B.C.”, “The Age of Athletic Ideal, 500–440 B.C.”, “Professionalism and Specialization, 440–338 B.C.”, “The Decline of Athletics, 338–146 B.C.”, “Athletics Under the Romans”, “The Olympic Festival, etc. Macha Press is republishing this classic work now in a new edition complete with the extract 'Classical Games' by Francis Storr.


Greek Athletics

Greek Athletics

Author: F. A. Wright

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2021-11-05

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13:

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Greek Athletics explores the inspirations for the current day Olympics. Anybody would marvel at the fun illustrations and accurate descriptions of ancient Greek recreation. Contents: Athletics, Athletic Festivals, Gymnastics and Military Training, Physical Exercise, cont.


Book Synopsis Greek Athletics by : F. A. Wright

Download or read book Greek Athletics written by F. A. Wright and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2021-11-05 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greek Athletics explores the inspirations for the current day Olympics. Anybody would marvel at the fun illustrations and accurate descriptions of ancient Greek recreation. Contents: Athletics, Athletic Festivals, Gymnastics and Military Training, Physical Exercise, cont.


The First Physical Culturists: Ancient Greek Athletics, Training and Competition

The First Physical Culturists: Ancient Greek Athletics, Training and Competition

Author: John Alexander Daulat

Publisher:

Published: 2020-08-15

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13:

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Physical culture can be regarded as a philosophy, regimen or lifestyle aiming to achieve maximum physical development by exercise, diet and athletic competition. The ancient Greeks were the first to cultivate their bodies to achieve the ideal physique and use physical culture as a form of preventative medicine. This fascinating book highlights how physical culture through exercise and athletics was a fundamental aspect of ancient Greece. This book revisits some of the commonly known aspects of ancient Greece, the Olympic Games and exercise techniques comparing with modern training principles. A unique fusion of sport history and science providing the reader with a detailed knowledge of how to apply these principles to their own exercise training regimen.The lessons found in the history of the world's best athletes are as relevant now as they were during the time of the first Olympic games. Alex Daulat's inviting and informative approach offers insight into ancient exercise, diet, and healthy-living techniques and how it can be applied to modern health and wellness plans. It's often nonfiction that makes history riveting, and The First Physical Culturists is a great must-read book for every history buff and fitness guru.


Book Synopsis The First Physical Culturists: Ancient Greek Athletics, Training and Competition by : John Alexander Daulat

Download or read book The First Physical Culturists: Ancient Greek Athletics, Training and Competition written by John Alexander Daulat and published by . This book was released on 2020-08-15 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Physical culture can be regarded as a philosophy, regimen or lifestyle aiming to achieve maximum physical development by exercise, diet and athletic competition. The ancient Greeks were the first to cultivate their bodies to achieve the ideal physique and use physical culture as a form of preventative medicine. This fascinating book highlights how physical culture through exercise and athletics was a fundamental aspect of ancient Greece. This book revisits some of the commonly known aspects of ancient Greece, the Olympic Games and exercise techniques comparing with modern training principles. A unique fusion of sport history and science providing the reader with a detailed knowledge of how to apply these principles to their own exercise training regimen.The lessons found in the history of the world's best athletes are as relevant now as they were during the time of the first Olympic games. Alex Daulat's inviting and informative approach offers insight into ancient exercise, diet, and healthy-living techniques and how it can be applied to modern health and wellness plans. It's often nonfiction that makes history riveting, and The First Physical Culturists is a great must-read book for every history buff and fitness guru.


Greek Athletics and the Olympics

Greek Athletics and the Olympics

Author: Alan Beale

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2011-09-29

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 0521138205

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An exciting series that provides students with direct access to the ancient world by offering new translations of extracts from its key texts. Where did the idea of celebrating the Olympic Games every four years come from? The short answer is ancient Greece. The very name 'Olympic' announces an origin for the competition, but, as with most of our classical heritage, it is easy for the superficial similarities to conceal major cultural differences. The purpose of this new book in the Greece and Rome: Texts and Contexts series is to provide an introduction to Greek athletics and their most important competition at Olympia through a selection of contemporary visual and literary sources.


Book Synopsis Greek Athletics and the Olympics by : Alan Beale

Download or read book Greek Athletics and the Olympics written by Alan Beale and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-09-29 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exciting series that provides students with direct access to the ancient world by offering new translations of extracts from its key texts. Where did the idea of celebrating the Olympic Games every four years come from? The short answer is ancient Greece. The very name 'Olympic' announces an origin for the competition, but, as with most of our classical heritage, it is easy for the superficial similarities to conceal major cultural differences. The purpose of this new book in the Greece and Rome: Texts and Contexts series is to provide an introduction to Greek athletics and their most important competition at Olympia through a selection of contemporary visual and literary sources.


Eros and Greek Athletics

Eros and Greek Athletics

Author: Thomas F. Scanlon

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2002-02-07

Total Pages: 468

ISBN-13: 0195348761

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Ancient Greek athletics offer us a clear window on many important aspects of ancient culture, some of which have distinct parallels with modern sports and their place in our society. Ancient athletics were closely connected with religion, the formation of young men and women in their gender roles, and the construction of sexuality. Eros was, from one perspective, a major god of the gymnasium where homoerotic liaisons reinforced the traditional hierarchies of Greek culture. But Eros in the athletic sphere was also a symbol of life-affirming friendship and even of political freedom in the face of tyranny. Greek athletic culture was not so much a field of dreams as a field of desire, where fervent competition for honor was balanced by cooperation for common social goals. Eros and Greek Athletics is the first in-depth study of Greek body culture as manifest in its athletics, sexuality, and gender formation. In this comprehensive overview, Thomas F. Scanlon explores when and how athletics was linked with religion, upbringing, gender, sexuality, and social values in an evolution from Homer until the Roman period. Scanlon shows that males and females made different uses of the same contests, that pederasty and athletic nudity were fostered by an athletic revolution beginning in the late seventh century B.C., and that public athletic festivals may be seen as quasi-dramatic performances of the human tension between desire and death. Accessibly written and full of insights that will challenge long-held assumptions about ancient sport, Eros and Greek Athletics will appeal to readers interested in ancient and modern sports, religion, sexuality, and gender studies.


Book Synopsis Eros and Greek Athletics by : Thomas F. Scanlon

Download or read book Eros and Greek Athletics written by Thomas F. Scanlon and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2002-02-07 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ancient Greek athletics offer us a clear window on many important aspects of ancient culture, some of which have distinct parallels with modern sports and their place in our society. Ancient athletics were closely connected with religion, the formation of young men and women in their gender roles, and the construction of sexuality. Eros was, from one perspective, a major god of the gymnasium where homoerotic liaisons reinforced the traditional hierarchies of Greek culture. But Eros in the athletic sphere was also a symbol of life-affirming friendship and even of political freedom in the face of tyranny. Greek athletic culture was not so much a field of dreams as a field of desire, where fervent competition for honor was balanced by cooperation for common social goals. Eros and Greek Athletics is the first in-depth study of Greek body culture as manifest in its athletics, sexuality, and gender formation. In this comprehensive overview, Thomas F. Scanlon explores when and how athletics was linked with religion, upbringing, gender, sexuality, and social values in an evolution from Homer until the Roman period. Scanlon shows that males and females made different uses of the same contests, that pederasty and athletic nudity were fostered by an athletic revolution beginning in the late seventh century B.C., and that public athletic festivals may be seen as quasi-dramatic performances of the human tension between desire and death. Accessibly written and full of insights that will challenge long-held assumptions about ancient sport, Eros and Greek Athletics will appeal to readers interested in ancient and modern sports, religion, sexuality, and gender studies.


The Ancient Olympic Games

The Ancient Olympic Games

Author: Charles River Charles River Editors

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2018-02-03

Total Pages: 70

ISBN-13: 9781985003675

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*Includes pictures. *Includes ancient accounts about the Games. *Includes a bibliography for further reading. "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."- Epictetus "Many are the sights to be seen in Greece, and many are the wonders to be heard; but on nothing does Heaven bestow more care than on the Eleusinian rites and the Olympic games." - Pausanias While they are still well-known, the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece are more relevant today than most people know, and the ways in which athletic sports pervade contemporary culture is comparable only to the spirit of athleticism in Hellenic Greece. Today, a large section of the media industry is devoted exclusively to sports, and in some nations, sports even figures as a critical component of their identity. In America, the Super Bowl could be considered a holiday of sorts, and of course, today's Olympic Games capture the attention of millions and millions of people around the world for two weeks. The Ancient Olympic Games were all these things and then some. It was a ritualized spectacle of great cultural importance in Greece, as well as an international communion that celebrated both diversity and unity, but most importantly, it was an ode to the strength of the human body and a paean to the vigor of the human spirit. For over a thousand years, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD, competitors and spectators traveled from all over Europe and Asia Minor to attend the legendary contests, bringing with them not only their passion for athletics but also their poetry, music, arts, and ideas. The ancient historian Strabo captured the spirit well when he described the Olympics: "... the glory of the temple persisted ... on account both of the festal assembly and of the Olympian Games, in which the prize was a crown and which were regarded as sacred, the greatest games in the world. The temple was adorned by its numerous offerings, which were dedicated there from all parts of Greece." Despite their international character, the Ancient Olympic Games belonged exclusively to the Greeks, even though prior to Alexander the Great, Ancient Greece consisted mostly of small city-states that warred constantly with each other. The Olympic Games served to assemble them and allow them to appreciate the commonality of their customs, gods, language, and other cultural characteristics, the very things that made them Greek. The historian Pausanias explained just how important the games were to the Greeks and their sense of pride by discussing one of the Olympics' best athletes: "Sotades at the ninety-ninth Festival was victorious in the long race and proclaimed a Cretan, as in fact he was. But at the next Festival he made himself an Ephesian, being bribed to do so by the Ephesian people. For this act he was banished by the Cretans." The Ancient Olympic Games: The History and Legacy of Antiquity's Most Famous Sports Competitions examines the origins of the games, highlights the competitions, and looks at the history and legacy of the events that spawned today's modern Olympics. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Ancient Olympics like never before, in no time at all.


Book Synopsis The Ancient Olympic Games by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book The Ancient Olympic Games written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-02-03 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures. *Includes ancient accounts about the Games. *Includes a bibliography for further reading. "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."- Epictetus "Many are the sights to be seen in Greece, and many are the wonders to be heard; but on nothing does Heaven bestow more care than on the Eleusinian rites and the Olympic games." - Pausanias While they are still well-known, the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece are more relevant today than most people know, and the ways in which athletic sports pervade contemporary culture is comparable only to the spirit of athleticism in Hellenic Greece. Today, a large section of the media industry is devoted exclusively to sports, and in some nations, sports even figures as a critical component of their identity. In America, the Super Bowl could be considered a holiday of sorts, and of course, today's Olympic Games capture the attention of millions and millions of people around the world for two weeks. The Ancient Olympic Games were all these things and then some. It was a ritualized spectacle of great cultural importance in Greece, as well as an international communion that celebrated both diversity and unity, but most importantly, it was an ode to the strength of the human body and a paean to the vigor of the human spirit. For over a thousand years, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD, competitors and spectators traveled from all over Europe and Asia Minor to attend the legendary contests, bringing with them not only their passion for athletics but also their poetry, music, arts, and ideas. The ancient historian Strabo captured the spirit well when he described the Olympics: "... the glory of the temple persisted ... on account both of the festal assembly and of the Olympian Games, in which the prize was a crown and which were regarded as sacred, the greatest games in the world. The temple was adorned by its numerous offerings, which were dedicated there from all parts of Greece." Despite their international character, the Ancient Olympic Games belonged exclusively to the Greeks, even though prior to Alexander the Great, Ancient Greece consisted mostly of small city-states that warred constantly with each other. The Olympic Games served to assemble them and allow them to appreciate the commonality of their customs, gods, language, and other cultural characteristics, the very things that made them Greek. The historian Pausanias explained just how important the games were to the Greeks and their sense of pride by discussing one of the Olympics' best athletes: "Sotades at the ninety-ninth Festival was victorious in the long race and proclaimed a Cretan, as in fact he was. But at the next Festival he made himself an Ephesian, being bribed to do so by the Ephesian people. For this act he was banished by the Cretans." The Ancient Olympic Games: The History and Legacy of Antiquity's Most Famous Sports Competitions examines the origins of the games, highlights the competitions, and looks at the history and legacy of the events that spawned today's modern Olympics. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Ancient Olympics like never before, in no time at all.