Overview
The word 'athletics' is derived from the Greek verb 'to struggle for a prize'. After reading this book, no one will see the Olympics as a graceful display of Greek beauty again, but as war by other means.Nigel Spivey paints a portrait of the Greek Olympics as they really were - fierce contests between bitter rivals, in which victors won kudos and rewards, and losers faced scorn and even assault. Victory was almost worth dying for, and a number of athletes did just that. Many more resorted to cheating and bribery. Contested always bitterly and often bloodily, the ancient Olympics were not an idealistic celebration of unity, but a clash of military powers in an arena not far removed from the battlefield.
Full Product Details
Author: Nigel Spivey (Lecturer in Classics at the University of Cambridge, and Fellow and Director of Studies in Classics at Emmanuel College)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 13.10cm
, Height: 1.70cm
, Length: 19.60cm
Weight: 0.336kg
ISBN: 9780199602698
ISBN 10: 0199602697
Pages: 310
Publication Date: 14 June 2012
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
Engaging, well written and thought provoking. Michael Scott, The Anglo-Hellenic Review No. 47
`Review from previous edition Review from previous edition Excellent... fascinating background reading for anyone planning to watch Athens 2004.' Sunday Times `Spivey's prose is always full of flavour and The Ancient Olympics must rate as one of the most enjoyable and intelligent books about the ancient Greeks currently on the market.' James Davidson, Daily Telegraph `Absorbing... crammed with information about the sporting events themselves' The Spectator `For the real story of the Olympics this is the ideal read: a very lively look at the games from ancient to modern.' Publishing News `Spivey is an ideal companion for this fine journey through Greece - past and present. We find out what Olympia represented in Antiquity and how the Olympics have become a part of the Western psyche.' Bettany Hughes, historian and presenter of The Spartan and Seven Ages of Britain
Author Information
Nigel Spivey is Senior Lecturer in Classical Art and Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, where he also is a Fellow of Emmanuel College. As an undergraduate he won honours at the Oxford-Cambridge athletics match, and set the university record for throwing the hammer. He went on to study at the British School at Rome and the University of Pisa. He has written widely on Classical culture and beyond: among his previous publications are the prize-winning Understanding Greek Sculpture (1996) and the widely acclaimed Enduring Creation (2001). He presented the major BBC/PBS television series How Art Made the World in 2005.
