Classical Studies 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Musaeum, Antihero, Cassander
Document Summary
Study of this topic has become popular in the last few decades, as there is a strong interest in understanding greek sport. Athletics were an important part of greek culture. He could be a discus thrower or a warrior depending of what he is holding. The fact that we have to ask this at all shows the connection between the two. Training of the body was crucial to greek (and roman) ideas of education: mousike kai gymnastike (lit. In rome: mens sana in corpore sano ( sound mind in a sound body") This training was often for competitive purposes. There is a striking culture of competition in the greek world (ex. Drama and tragedy): the games were called agones ( competitions"). In the ideology of ancient sport, greek athletics were about the physical struggle of gaining victory over an opponent. There was no second or third place, just first place and the rest lost.