000			01415nam a2200181 4500
010			_a2004046147
020			_a9780192804334
024			_a876526421
050			_aGV23
082			_a796.48
100	1		_aNigel Spivey
245	1		_aThe Ancient Olympics
260			_bOxford University Press, Incorporated
300			_a296 pages
520			_aThe word 'athletics' is derived from the Greek verb 'to struggle/suffer for a prize'. After reading this book, no one will see the Olympics as a graceful display of Greek beauty again, but as war by other means.Nigel Spivey 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. Victory was almost worth dying for, and a number of athletes did just that. The author explores what theevents 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 theOlympics has come from.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
650			_aSports/Recreation
999			_c2745 _d2745