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
| |||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Trade in The Ancient Olympics: War Minus the Shooting for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Learn more
|
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
A scholarly yet accessible text; history and myth intertwining. -- The Guardian, Saturday 23 July 2005
All this information is conveyed with an admirable calmness, clarity and vigour - a feat of scholarly athleticism. -- The Guardian, August 14, 2004
All this information is conveyed with an admirable calmness, clarity and vigour - a feat of scholarly athleticism. -- The Guardian, August 14, 2004
About the Author
Nigel Spivey teaches the classics at Cambridge University. He is the author of Understanding Greek Sculpture: Ancient Meanings, Modern Readings, Greek Art, Etruscan Art, and Enduring Creation: Art, Pain, and Fortitude.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Mrs. Galian
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is not a book for GCSE Classics students but for A level students or university degree. Nigel Spivey is an author who breaks the conventional rules. It makes you see the Ancient Olympics or the Greeks from a different perspective, quite revolutionary! It is a book written with heart and soul, trying to be as sincere and as honest as possible, getting rid of the cliches and the prejudice. Above all, Nigel Spivey takes you to the heart of The Ancient Olympics and makes you see the Games with the eyes of an Ancient Greek. It is thanks to him that you are able to understand the truth of the Ancient Greek World.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellence in Research
30 Aug 2006
By Thomas Randleman
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I cannot praise enough the excellence of Nigel Spivey's research and presentation involved with the ancient Olympics.
The craftsmanship of his narrative is first-rate and there is a refreshing candor and lack of romanticizing regarding this event and the times surrounding it.
Mr. Spivey may be remembered from his presenting of "The Queens and Kings Of England" on the Biography Channel. He is a charming host on this particular documentary and one can see his sincere interest in putting forth well done research in a way to include the viewer outside the convention of a professor ponticificating to his classroom.
A perfectly wonderful book by a perfectly wonderful writer!
Thomas Lee
The craftsmanship of his narrative is first-rate and there is a refreshing candor and lack of romanticizing regarding this event and the times surrounding it.
Mr. Spivey may be remembered from his presenting of "The Queens and Kings Of England" on the Biography Channel. He is a charming host on this particular documentary and one can see his sincere interest in putting forth well done research in a way to include the viewer outside the convention of a professor ponticificating to his classroom.
A perfectly wonderful book by a perfectly wonderful writer!
Thomas Lee
1 of 28 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Thank God They're Going to England, Not New York!
20 July 2005
By Betty Burks
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The anicent Greeks at Adelphia considered the original Olympics a 'civilized mode of war without the shooting.' The aim was winning at any cost (like American politics today), as the losers were called and looked down on as failures in disgrace. He dwells on boy athletes and shows a marble statue of the naked David minus one arm and a hand.
Why did the early Greek athletes compete naked? Did it have something to do with sex or did they have perfect bodies? Why did the Romans change the games in Olympia and make it more civilized? There the Greeks raised their sporting prowess to heroic status.
The historian, Bettany Hughes, wrote that this book shows "a number of hand-picked historical characters (which) bring us face to face with ... the ruthless business of winning the games." Nigel Spivey includes a photo of the naked wrestlers in marble. This is an erotic book. The poster for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics shows a naked combatant.
There is a drawing of the Olympic Zeus in the original Parthenon, a huge six-story-tall fixture similar to the modern Athena statuary in the Nashville, Tennessee, Parthenon. He has written many books among which are PANORAMA OF THE CLASSICAL WORLD and UNDERSTANDING GREEK SCULPTURE.
Why did the early Greek athletes compete naked? Did it have something to do with sex or did they have perfect bodies? Why did the Romans change the games in Olympia and make it more civilized? There the Greeks raised their sporting prowess to heroic status.
The historian, Bettany Hughes, wrote that this book shows "a number of hand-picked historical characters (which) bring us face to face with ... the ruthless business of winning the games." Nigel Spivey includes a photo of the naked wrestlers in marble. This is an erotic book. The poster for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics shows a naked combatant.
There is a drawing of the Olympic Zeus in the original Parthenon, a huge six-story-tall fixture similar to the modern Athena statuary in the Nashville, Tennessee, Parthenon. He has written many books among which are PANORAMA OF THE CLASSICAL WORLD and UNDERSTANDING GREEK SCULPTURE.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Ancient History & Civilisation > Greece
- Books > History > Ancient History & Civilisation > Rome
- Books > History > Europe > Pre-500
- Books > History > World History
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Academic Philosophy
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Philosophy
- Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Other Sports > Sporting Events > Olympic Games
- Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Reference > History of Sports
- Books > Travel & Holiday > Atlases & Maps > Countries A-Z > United Kingdom > Cities & Towns > Cambridge
- Books > Travel & Holiday > Atlases & Maps > Countries A-Z > United Kingdom > Cities & Towns > Oxford
- Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Europe > Greece
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
