Table Of ContentATHLETICS IN ANCIENT ATHENS
MNEMOSYNE
BIBLIOTHECA CLASSICA BATAVA
COLLEGERUNT
A.D. LEEMAN· H.W. PLEKET · C.J. RUIJGH
BIBLIOTHECAE FASCICULOS EDENDOS CURAVIT
C.J. RUIJGH, KLASSIEK SEMINARIUM, OUDE TURFMARKT 129, AMSTERDAM
SUPPLEMENTUM NONAGESIMUM QUINTUM
DONALD G. KYLE
ATHLETICS IN ANCIENT ATHENS
ATHLETICS IN ANCIENT ATHENS
BY
DONALD G. KYLE
SECOND REVISED EDITION
EJ. BRILL
LEIDEN • NEW YORK • KOL.l\"
1993
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee
on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kyle, Donald G.
Athletics in ancient Athens / by Donald G. Kyle. - 2nd rev. ed.
p. cm. - (Mnemosyne, bibliotheca classica Batava.
Supplementum, ISSN 0169-8958; 95)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 9004097597
I. Athletics-Greece-Athens--History. 2. Games-Greece --Athens-
History. I. Title. II. Series.
GV2 l .K95 1993
796'.0938'5-dc20 92-42730
C:IP
ISSN 0 I 69-8958
ISBN 90 04 09759 7
© Copyright 198 7, 1993 by E.J. Brill, Leiden, The }/ether/ands
All rights reserved. No part ef this publication may be reproduced, translated, ,tared in
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use is granted by E.J. Brill provided that
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Clearance Center, 2 7 Congress Street, SALE\1 jfA
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PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS
To the memory of
Mr. H. G. Kyle and
Dr. E. M. Wightman
CONTENTS
Preface IX
Preface to the Reprint Edition XI
Abbreviations xv
Maps and Illustrations XVI
Introduction : Issues and Evidence .
I. The Rise of Athletics at Athens 15
II. Athenian Civic Athletics : Festivals and Activities 32
III. The Facilities : Sites and Buildings 56
IV. Athenian Athletes . 102
V. Critics and Criticisms: Prizes and Professionalism 124
VI. Athletics and Political Leadership . 155
Conclusion: Athletics and the City-State of Athens 169
Appendix A: Athletic, Equestrian and Other Events 178
Appendix B : Catalogues of Known and Possible Athenian Athletes 195
Selected Bibliography 229
Index . 235
PREFACE
It may come as a surprise that no one previously has written a thorough
history of Athenian athletics, but then Olympia has always been the focus of
sporting attention and also the discipline of sport history is still an emerging
one. It is perhaps presumptuous of me to endeavor to treat so much: to
examine the athletic history of the best attested and most studied city-
state, utilizing a variety of disciplines and types of evidence. Nevertheless,
I feel strongly that athletics have been understudied as an integral part of the
civic life of Athens, and further that an interdisciplinary approach is needed.
My study is intended to show that athletics at Athens (and in other poleis)
deserve and reward more attention.
Herein the names of classical authors and texts, journals and reference
works are abbreviated according to the Oxford Classical Dictionary2 or
secondarily the system of the American Journal of Archaeology (see AlA rch.
82 ( 1978) : 5-IO; 84 (1980) : 3-4). An additional list of some frequently
cited works and their abbreviations is included. In the footnotes volume
numbers of most modern multi-volume works are indicated with Arabic
numerals and a colon (i.e. I : page number).
The bibliography is one of selected works of relevance and value to this
study. A bibliography of all works cited would be one of increased length
but decreased value. An attempt has been made to use reliable, standard
editions of ancient texts; any textual problems or special editions are indi-
cated in the notes. The translations, intentionally unambitious, are my own
unless otherwise indicated.
I have tried to handle the thorny problem of transliteration with some
degree of consistency and common sense. Popular spellings of certain names
and words, such as Thucydides and gymnasium, are used for convenience.
The names of ancient authors and works generally are given in their Latinized
forms, while less common terms and most Greek names are transliterated
directly.
In its various stages from dissertation (McMaster University, 1981) to
book this study has benefitted greatly from the support and scholarship
of many people including Daniel J. Geagan, the late E. M. Wightman,
G. M. Paul and others. The errors and flaws of the study are fully my own.
For financial support for my research I would like to acknowledge the Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Dalley
Fellowship of McMaster University. While in Greece I received gracious
assistance from the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and
froIP the Epigraphical Museum. I would also like to thank John Travlos
X PREFACE
for the use of his excellent maps. For a generous subsidy to aid the publication
of this work I thank the University of Texas at Arlington. Finally I want to
thank my wife, family and friends for putting up with me and "the book."
University of Texas DONALD G. KYLE
at Arlington
