The Ancient
Olympics
by CTCWeb Editors
I always
felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was
my mental ability. -
Bruce Jenner, Gold Medal winner in the 1976 decathlon
The Prologue
Long before the Olympics, athletic
competition was an integral part of life in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia,
and Greece. For the Greeks, Egyptians, and Mesopotamians physical
fitness was extremely important, even for children. Kings, pharaohs,
and nobles trained and competed in athletic contests. Regularly
scheduled athletic competitions took place in Egypt and Mesopotamia
as far back as 3,000 BCE, but only pharaohs, kings, and nobility
usually attended these events. Archaeological evidence from the
tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs Ptahotep, Akhethotep, and Ramses
III depict wrestling scenes dating as far back as 2,400 BCE.
These scenes show two naked or belted men grappling with one
another in an attempt to throw the other to the ground. Some
scenes show the presence of an official, whiles others show the
defeated athlete on the ground with one hand raised to indicate
a cry of "uncle," or defeat. The Egyptians also played
ball games and competed in boating, equestrian, boxing, gymnastic,
and stick fighting competitions.
|
In the ancient Mesopotamian
text of Gilgamesh written in Cuneiform on twelve tablets,
Gilgamesh wrestles the hero Enkidu. Because Gilgamesh is terrorizing
the citizens of Uruk, the gods send Enkidu, the wild beast man,
to challenge Gilgamesh to a wrestling match. After a long bout
with neither man winning, the two became friends and travel together
on many adventures. (To learn more about Gilgamesh, see the Creighton University Gilgamesh page.) |
There is ample evidence of Aegean athletic
competitions during the Bronze Age. Unlike modern day cowboys,
the ancient Minoans did not ride bulls. Instead, they jumped
over them. Bull leaping and other forms of gymnastics were favorite
events among the Minoans. Many works of art, like this fresco
depicting a scene of youths leaping over a charging bull by hand-springing
off the bull’s back, reveal the procedures and 
equipment used in Minoan athletic competitions.
From archaeological evidence, it is apparent that bull leaping
was an important part of Minoan culture and religious festivals.
The Minoans also engaged in boxing, wrestling, and running competitions,
all of which were eventually adopted by the Myceneans who added
chariot racing to the list of events. Archaeological evidence
from Myceneans times shows many scenes of athletic competitions
depicted on tombs and gravestones.
Athletic competitions, such as boxing,
wrestling, running, chariot racing, and jumping, mimicked the
use of skills necessary in war. Appropriately, one of the best
records of ancient athletic competitions is a description of
the games held in honor of a fallen warrior during the Trojan
War. In Book 23 of Homer’s Iliad, the hero Achilles
calls for a cease to the hostilities against the Trojans to hold
funerary games in honor of his fallen friend Patroklos. Achilles
offered prizes to the winners of the competitions, although unlike
today they were not gold, silver, or bronze medals. To the winners
of Patroklos’ funerary games, Achilles awarded the following
prizes: a woman skilled in handiwork, a tripod, a six-year old
mare, a caldron, two talents of gold, and a two-handled urn.
(To read Homer’s description of Patroklos’ funerary
games, click
here.)
Another example of athletic competition
appears in Homer’s Odyssey when the Phaiakians held
games in honor of their guest Odysseus. In this episode, as in
the Iliad, the hero had the opportunity to demonstrate
his arete, or virtue, through an exhibition of his physical
ability and bravery. When Odysseus was insulted by Phaiakian
competitors, he was challenged to prove his arete by out
performing those who taunted him. (To read more about Odysseus
at the Phaiakian games, click here.) Eventually, athletic competitions
became more organized and athletes competed at scheduled competitions
that drew heroes from all over Greece to demonstrate their arete
and earn the accolades of the ancient world for their athletic
prowess. At the Olympics, victorious athletes earned honor for
themselves and their cities. In addition, they enjoyed the satisfaction
of personal achievement through the recognition of their kartereia,
sacrifices, mental strength, and endurance in the face of long
hours of training and practice without complaint. Like the athletes
and heroes before them, victorious athletes earned immortality
and believed themselves preferred by gods who helped them win.
