Athletes in the Ancient Greek world

Games, most of which were established as religious festivals to honor the gods, heroes, or events, allowed athletes from across the Greek world to compete, with the winners receiving prizes ranging from wreaths to statues to money. In the ancient Greek world, athletes held a favored position in their home city-state. These athletes not only competed for their own prestige and livelihood, but they also brought their city-state praise and honor for their victories.

Many athletes were associated with the Olympic Games and other Panhellenic Games, giving rise to questions about their status as amateurs or professionals. This question is often associated with the modern Olympic Games, which were revived in 1896 CE. Unlike modern Olympic athletes, ancient athletes were not constrained by regulations concerning their status as amateurs or professionals. In fact, most athletes would receive prizes for competing in games, and the word athlete is derived from the Greek athlon, meaning “prize.”

Greek athletes with discus, javelins, and hand weights. (The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Rogers Fund, 1906)

In addition to the athlete winning a prize, a sculptor was usually commissioned to create a rendition of the athlete to erect in their hometown. At Olympia, there were statues to honor the victors as well. Those put up at Olympia, in the Sanctuary of Zeus, were only idealized unless the individual won three victories, in which case he was allowed a realistic likeness.

These statues would show the history for the competitor. For example, the athlete Dikon’s statue indicated that he won five boys’ races at Delphi, three at Isthmia, four at Nemea, and one at Olympia, as well as two men’s races. He had statues in Olympia for all of his races and was from Caulonia, but later he was bribed to say that he was from Syracuse.

It appears that these games were not always honest, with decrees often released that described those who had been caught cheating and receiving bribes. These decrees were usually on the main roads that athletes took to travel to the games, and they may have been erected to shame those who had been caught or as a warning to others.

The typical events that athletes competed in were running, wrestling, and later boxing, the pentathlon, and horse racing. Running was the most common event and, in many ways, the easiest to put on and compete. The races ranged from short sprints to longer races. Wrestling and boxing were introduced to allow combat displays. For wrestling, one competitor had to win three throws comprised of having the other individual’s hip, back, or shoulder touching the ground; if both competitors hit the ground, it was not a throw.

For boxing, it appears that punches were aimed only at the head. Another sport, the pankration, was a combination of boxing and wrestling, and only biting and gouging the eyes were prohibited. An all-around sporting event, the pentathlon, included a running event (probably a sprint), the long jump (which may have been from the standing position or running), the discus and javelin throw, and wrestling. It is not clear how the events were scored; for example, it is not known if in the wrestling competition, it was through elimination by points or by outright defeat.

Although horse racing was the most prestigious event, the chariot driver or horse rider was not honored, but rather the owner. The athletes who competed in these events were often hailed as great men and provided with numerous benefits, similar to modern athletes.