The Earliest Days of Greek Athletics

The Earliest Days of Greek Athletics In the two passages from Homer which are presented here a picture emerges of what we may call Homeric athletics. The question iq however, whether that picture is one of his own day or a vali{ if somewhat blurred reflecrion of the athletic practices of the Mycenaean era. Comparison with archaeological discoveries from that era finds relatively little in common with the Homeric picnrre, while comparison with the development of the Olympic program (Appendix) suggests that the Homeric picture would have been valid only as of the early 7th century a.c. If so, the informality of the Homeric games might have been the case as well for the early days of the Olympics. r Homer, lliad 4.256-24.6 ca.75o B.c. Patroklos, the childhood and lifelong friend of AchíIIes, has fought in Achilles' place and been killed by Hektor outside the walls ot' Troy. The corpse of Patroklos has been cremated and the crowd at the funeral begins to disperse: But Achilles held the people there and sat them in a broad assembly, and brought prizes for games out of his ships, cauldrons and tripods and horses Arete: Greek Athletics Eørliest Days of Greek Athletics and mules and high-headed powerful cattle and beautifully girdled women his horses well and studies the man in front. I shall give you a markeç and and gray iron. First he set forth the glorious prizes for equine feet: a woman you cannot miss it. There is a dry stump about six feet high above the faultless in her work to be led away and a tripod with ears holding rwenty- ground, either oak or pine, but not rotted by rain wate4 with two white tlvo measures for the first prize. Then for the second he set forth a six-year- stones against it on either side, and there the course is smooth around iu it old unbroken mare carrying an unborn mule foal. Then for the third prize may be the marker of some man long dead and buried, or the t?yssa set up he set forth a beautiful unfired cauldron holding four measures, still new by earlier men, but now Achilles has made it the termø. Having approached and shiny. For the fourth he set forth two gold talents, and for the fifth a this, you must drive your horses and chariot near it, and you in your well- two-handled unfired bowl. Then he stood up and spoke out to the Argives: woven chariot box lean toward the lefç then call out to your right horse and "These prizes are placed in competition awaiting the horsemen. If we goad him on, and give him full rein. Your left horse must be driven up dose Achaians were not competing for the sake of some other herq I myself rc the nyssø so that the hub of the wheel seems to touch, but do not let it would take the first prizes away to my tent. you know by how much my graze the stone lest you harm your horses and break your chariot. That horses surpass all others in their arete, for they are immortal, a gift of would be a thing of joy for the others and a source of shame for you. My Poseidon to my father Peleus who handed them in tum to me. But I and my dear boy, keep your wits about you and be careful, for if at the nyssa you solid-hoofed horses stay aside; such is the fame of the charioteer whom drive hard and slip ahea{ there is no one who by sprinting ca-n catch you, they have lost, the gentle one/ who so many times rubbed soft oil into thei¡ Iet alone pass you." manes after he had washed them with shining water. Therefore they both So spoke Nestor, son of Neleus, and sat back down in his placg having stand here grieving him with manes trailing on the ground both hearts told his son the way to win. grieving as one. But the rest of you take your places in the field, whoever The fifth to prepare his flowing-maned ho¡ses was Meriones. has confidence in his horses and compact chariot." Then they mounted their chariots and tossed in their lots. Achilles shook So spoke the son of Peleus, and the swift riders gathered. By far the first them, and the first to fall out was that of Antilochos, son of Nesto4 and after to rise was Eumelos, son of Admetos, who surpassed all in horsemanship. him strong Eumelos drew the next place, and next was Menelaos, son of After him rose Diomedes, strong son of Tydeus, and yoked the Trojan horses Atreus. Meriones drew the next lane to drive, and last of all the best of which he had taken by force from Aeneas. Next rose fair-haired Menelaos, them all, Diomedes, drew the lane to drive his horses. Standing in line, son of Atreus, and yoked his swift horses. Fourth to prepare his flowing- Achilles showed them the terma, far away on the level plain. Next to the maned horses was Antilochos, glorious son of high-hearted king Nestor. He goal he set godlike Phoinùç squire of his fatheç to remember the running stood nearby and gave well-intentioned advice to his son: and cenify it. 'Antilochos, Zeus and Poseidon have loved you, though you are young, Then all held their whips high above their horses, and together flicked and have taught you all aspects of good horsemanship. Therefore, I have no with their reins, and bellowed out for speed. Quickly they spread out over need to instruct you, for you know well how to double the termø. But I the plain and left the ships behind. The swirling dust clung beneath the think that your horses are the slowest, and that your work will be harder. chests of the horses like clouds of a whirlwind; their manes streamed out in The horses of these men are fasteç but they do not know better than you the wind's current; the chariots plunged down to the ground and again, shot how to plan. Remember then, my dear boy, always to have your plan in up like meteors. The drivers rocked in their chariots, and the heart of each mind so that the prizes will not elude you. The woodcutter is far better with beat high with the hope of victory; they shouted to their horses, and they skill than with brute force; it is with skill that the pilot holds his swift ship flew over the plain in a cloud of dust. on course though buffeted by winds on the wine-colored sea. Thus too by But when the fleet horses turned back towa¡d the shore, then the arete of. skill one charioteer passes another. But whoever puts his trust in his horses each began to show and at once the field of horses was stretched out. and chariot and recklessly turns wide coming and going, his horses drift out Quickly the swift-footed horses of Eumelos went in front, and after them of the course and he cannot hold them. But the man who takes advantage is the stallions of Diomedes, not far behind and seemingly always about to he whq though driving the slower horses, always watches the terma and, dimb into the chariot of Eumelos with their breath hot on his back and turns it tightþ nor forgets how much oxhide rein to give and take, but holds broad shoulders. And Diomedes might have passed, or at least drawn even Arete: Greek Athletics 4 I Earliest Days of Greek Athletics / 5 had not Apollo been angry with him, and dashed the whip from his hands. "Don't slacken up, don't stop, even though your hearts are heavy! Their The tears of rage started from his eyes which watched the mares of Eumelos feet and knees will tire before yours ! Their youth is gone.,, running even better while his own horses slackened without the goad. But So he spoke, and they were terrified by their master,s shouts and ran Apollo's cheating of Diomedes did not escape Athena; quickly she swept to harder and soon caught up with çhe others. him and returned his whip, and inspired his horses with strength. Then she Meanwhile, the Argives sitting in their assembly were watching for the descended in wrath upon Eumelos and broke the yoke of his horses. They horses which flew through the dust of the plain. Idomeneus, lord of the ran off the road, the pole dragging on the ground, and he was catapulted out Cretans, was first to make out the horses, for he sat apart from the others, of the chariot over rhe wheel, ripping his elbows and mouth and skin, and and higher up where he had a panoramic view. He heard and recognized the smashing his forehead so that the tears flowed but his voice would not. shouting of Diomedes, and made out his conspicuous horse, leading the oth- Then Diomedes rushed past him, and led the fleld by faa for Athena had ers, all red except for a white mark like a full moon on his forehead. inspired strength in his horses and glory in him. Idomeneus stood up and called to the Argives: After him came fair-haired Menelaos, but Antilochos cried out to his "Friends, am I the only one who sees the horses, or do you see them too? father's horses: It seems to me rhat other horses are leading, another charioteer ahead.

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