Dec 07
This story is taken from ‘OLYMPICA HIPPICA’ [Antikas TG, Euandros Editions, 2004] and analyzes the history of the ancient festival as ‘hieros agon’ dedicated to Zeus that ended tragically with the rise of a new deity–and a new religion. However, even before abandoning the Olympia, Pythia, Isthmia and Nemea, a multitude of emperors, generals, barbarians and common looters had delivered a blow under the belt to the principles that governed every ancient athletic ideal–including the axiom ‘Noos Hygies en Somati Hygie’…The major contributors to the decline and gradual ‘exctinction’ of the ancient ‘divine’ athletic festivals were emperors of either the West or the East Roman empire.
T. G. Antikas, DVM, PhD
chapter27.pdf
Tagged with: ancient Olympics • Beginning • End
May 19
Taken from T. G. Antikas, ‘Olympica Historica’, Euandros editions, Athens 2004.
Enjoy!
Olympia: The action for horses starts on Day-Two
Tagged with: ancient Olympics • contests • day-two • horse • mule • program
May 02
Taken from T. G. Antikas, ‘OLYMPICA HIPPICA’, Euandros editions, Athens 2004.
Enjoy.Avra (click on the link for the full chapter in PDF format)
This story and the previous one for Bucephalas is from T. G. Antikas’ book ‘Olympica Hippica’ published by Euandros Editions, Athens 2004. The remarkable Hellanodikai (judges of the Hellenes) at Olympia seemingly had an eye for good horses. They attributed the victory in keles (flat racing, 12 km) to Avra, a spirited mare owned by Pheidolas of Corinth, despite the fact that got rid of her anabates (jockey) at the start of the race. Their decision has no equivalent in modern racing, but proved to be correct. The mare’s son Lykos, owned by the sons of Pheidolas, won the same race in the next Olympics.
Tagged with: ancient Olympics • equestrian contests • flat racing • mares
