Athletic competitions, such as boxing, wrestling, running, chariot racing, and jumping, mimicked the use of skills necessary in war. Appropriately, one of the best records of ancient athletic competitions is a description of the games held in honor of a fallen warrior during the Trojan War. In Book 23 of Homer’s Iliad, the hero Achilles calls for a cease to the hostilities against the Trojans to hold funerary games in honor of his fallen friend Patroklos. Achilles offered prizes to the winners of the competitions, although unlike today they were not gold, silver, or bronze medals. To the winners of Patroklos’ funerary games, Achilles awarded the following prizes: a woman skilled in handiwork, a tripod, a six-year old mare, a caldron, two talents of gold, and a two-handled urn.
No comments:
Post a Comment