Ancient Greek Athletics

Catalog description

The history of ancient Greek athletics spans 1000+ years (excluding its later reception and modern re-incarnation). The popularity of athletics spread in the multicultural Mediterranean and beyond. This course explores the early history of athletics in ancient Greece (1500 to 500 BCE), and the subsequent cultural and social developments that spanned the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman Imperial periods (500 BCE to 300 CE). Topics include the body, cheating, professionalization, treatment of victors, and closer studies of the major athletics centers (Olympia, Delphi, Nemea, Athens), and regional and local games (including Ptolemaic Egypt). The main focus of the course is antiquity (not modern reception/reinvention). The course is open to all students and assumes no prior knowledge of the ancient world. Assessment is by written assignments and a presentation (no mid-term or final examination).