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Athletic Competition in Ancient Epic Poetry

Athletic competitions appear all through out ancient epic poetry. Originating in Greece, classical epic poetry emphasized the cultural values and traditions of the time in long narratives about heroes and gods. Heroes in classical epic competed in multi-day athletic competitions in events such as boxing, wrestling, and archery. The competitions served as a way to honor the deceased (funeral games) and as a way to demonstrate physical prowess.

The Funeral Games of Patroclus is a 1778 fresco by Jacques-Louis David. It shows the funeral games for Patroclus during Trojan War.

Iliad 23: The Funeral Games for Patroclus

In Iliad 23, Achilles organizes a series of athletic competitions to honor the fallen Achaean hero, Patroclus. The games also served as a break-point in the Trojan war following the crucial return of Achilles to the battlefield and the death of Hector.

Synopsis:

Following the burial proceedings for Patroclus, Achilles presented the assembled Achaean army with a number of highly valued items from his ships to serve as prizes for the ensuing games.

In the first event, Achilles organized a chariot race. The competitors would race down and around a turn post and then head back to the starting line to finish the race. Phoenix was stationed at the turning post to ensure a fair race. The winner would receive a women faultless with her hands and a large tripod. Second place would be awarded a six-year old mare, while third would get a cauldron. Fourth would get two talents worth of gold, and fifth place would receive a two-handled jar. Eumelos, Diomedes, Menelaus, Antilochos, and Merinos each stepped forth to compete. The race started with the prohibited race favorite, Eumelos, getting off to an early lead closely followed by Diomedes. As the race progressed, Eumelos extended his lead over Diomedes, when Apollo stole Diomede’s whip. However, Athena quickly came to the aid of Diomedes. First, Athena returned Diomede’s whip, and then she sabotaged Eumelos’ chariot. The Athena-inspired Diomedes took the lead as Eumelos fell back into last place. As Diomedes cemented his position in first, a fierce competition for second place arose between Anilochos and Menelaus. Anilochos overcame Menelaus with dirty racing tactics. The chariot race came to an end with Diomedes in first followed by Anilochos, Menelaus, Merinos, and Eumelos. Following the race, Achilles began awarding prizes to the racers. This caused much among the participants. First, Achilles suggested that Eumelos should receive the second place prize because he would have never finished in last without divine intervention. However, Antilochos protests and Achilles agrees to give Eumelos a new prize. Menelaus then protests that Antilochos did not race fairly, but after the two talk out their differences, Menelaus relents the second prize to Antilochos. The first event comes to a close with all participants satisfied.^[1]

Next, a boxing match between Epeios and Euryalos took place. The winner would be whoever could outlast the other. The match began with the two fighters in a circular ring. With the first punch, Epeios hit Euryalos in the cheek knocking him out. The match ended as quickly as it had begun. Epeios received a donkey for his victory, while Euryalos received a goblet as his consolation prize.

After boxing, a fierce wrestling match between Odysseus and Telamonian Aias started. The two were evenly matched. Neither Odysseus nor Telamonian Aias could get the upper hand over the other to claim victory. Achilles declared the match a draw because he did not want two of the best Achaean fighters to get hurt. Odysseus and Telamonian Aias split the prizes.^[1]

The fourth event of the funeral games was a foot race. Achilles set forth a special prize for the winner of the foot race. The winner would receive a sliver mixing bowl previously owned by Patroclus. The participants would race down to a turn post and back. Only Aias, Antilochos, and Odysseus entered the race. The race began with Aias taking the early lead, but Odysseus trailed him closely. As the race came to a close, Odysseus called on Athena to help him win. Athena heard his pray and came to his aid by causing Aias to slip allowing Odysseus to win. Aias still finished second, while Antilochos came in last.^[1]

For the fifth event, Achilles declared that a spear fight take place. The winner would be the first to score a vitual strike on the other.  Telamonian Aias and Diomedes both stepped forth to compete. Telamonian Aias was the first to land a strike with his spear; however, Diomedes easily deflected it with his shield. Diomedes then countered Telamonian Aias, but before Telamonian Aias delivered the vital strike Achilles stopped the fight. Although Achilles stopped the fight, he still awarded Diomedes the victory prize.

Next, Achilles put forth a competition that tested both strength and athleticism. The winner would be whomever could throw the discuss the furthest. Epeios, Leonteus, Telamonian Aias, and Polypoites each stepped forward to compete. Epeios threw first using a technique that brought many laughs from the other Achaeans who were watching the event. The second to throw the discuss was Leonteus, who barely surpassed Epeios. Third up was Telamonian Aias. He had a massive throw that easily cleared the first two attempts. However, Telamonian Aias' lead was short lived because the last participant, Polypoites, threw it way past Telamonian Aias previously set mark.

The penultimate event of the funeral games for Patroclus was an archery competition. To win the competition, Archers had to hit a pigeon which was tethered with a string to a pole. Only two archers, Meriones and Teukros, took part in the competition. Meriones was the first to take to aim at the target. The arrow flew threw the air directly towards the target. However, Apollo caused the arrow to miss because Merinos had failed to pray to Apollo. Then Teukros took aim at the target, but before he released the arrow, Meriones promised to sacrifice to Apollo. Meriones released the arrow, and it flew towards the pigeon. The arrow struck the pigeon to win the competition.

The final competition was suppose to be a spear-throwing competition. Agamenmon and Meriones both stepped forth to the compete. However, Achilles stop the competition before it even could begin because Agamemnon would easily win. Achilles then award the prize for the competition to Agamemnon, and he proceed to give the prize to Talthybios.

Athletic competitions in Epic

Phaeacians- The Odyssey Book: 8

During Odysseus' long post Trojan war journey back to Ithaca, he lands on the island of the Phaeacians. During Odysseus' time there, the Phaeacians stage a series of athletic contests for Odysseus so that he could spread stories about the Phaeacians' athletic prowess. First, the Phaeacians competed in a foot race. Following the foot race, the Phaeacians battled each other in a fierce wrestling competition. After wrestling, the Phaeacians held jumping and boxing contests. The fifth and final event was the discuss throw. After the discuss competition, Odysseus is invited to show his athletic skills, but he declines the offer. After declining the offer, one Phaeacian, Euryalos, joked that Odysseus did not have the skills to compete in an athletic compete. This infuriated Odysseus. The angered Odysseus then grabbed a discuss much larger and heavier than the ones used by the Phaeacians, and he swung back and released the discus. The discuss landed well clear of the Phaeacians earlier marks. Odysseus then challenged the Phaeacians to other athletic competitions, which they declined.

Suitors, Penelope, and Odysseus- The Odyssey Book 21:

After evading the suitors' advances for many years in hopes that Odysseus might return, Penelope finally relented to the suitors' advances for her hand in marriage and set forth a challenge to determine which suitor she would marry. To obtain her hand in marriage, the suitor must string the bow of Odysseus and shoot an iron arrow clean threw twelve axes. Telemachos, son of Odysseus and Penelope, stepped forth to attempt the athletic feat first in hopes of protecting his family's house. Telemachos tried three times to string the bow of Odysseus but failed each time. Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, stopped Telemachos from trying a fourth time. After Telemachos, suitor after suitor attempted the challenge, but all their attempts ended in failure. Odysseus, still disguised as an unknown beggar, then asked for a chance to shoot the bow. The suitors mockingly refused the disguised Odysseus' request, but Telemachos stepped in to give the beggar, Odysseus, a chance. Odysseus stepped up to line and took his time examining his bow. He then proceed to string the bow with ease too much of the dismay of the beggars. Odysseus then released the string and let the arrow fly. It soared clean threw all twelve axes. Odysseus then revealed himself to much too the shock of the suitors.

The Argonautica:

The Argonauts landed on a stretch of land inhabited by a pretentious group of people called the Berbrykians. Ignoring the traditional welcoming practices, Amykos, the king of the Berbrykians, stepped forward immediately to inform the Argonauts of the Berbrykians' ordinance that no foreigners may leave until one member of the group competes in boxing match against him first. Irritated, Polydeukes accepted Amykos' challenge quickly. The Argonauts and the Berbrykians gathered around as the two fighters prepared to fight. After strapping on the knuckle wraps, the fight began with great intensity. Amykos came out throwing punches left and right, but Polydeukes dodged the Amykos' early onslaught with much ease. The two fighters traded punches back and forth until Polydeukes delivered a counter punch that sent Amykos to ground.

Hesiod's The Shield of Hercules:

Preparing for battle, Hercules donned his armor and pick up his glorious shield. The shield was a gift from Anthea before he set off to complete his labours. Crafted and forged by the god Hephaestus with ivory and gold, the Shield of Hercules stood undefeated in battle. The shield bore images of men boxing and wrestling as hunters chased hares accompanied by their loyal dogs. Horsemen were set waiting to contend for prizes. Stuck in an unending race, charioteers urged their horses onto the finish, but the prize of gold forever lay out of reach.

The Battle of Frogs and Mice:

As The Battle of Frogs and Mice begins, Puff-jaw, a frog, inquisitively asks the identity of the stranger, a mouse, near the edge of the water. The mouse replies that he is Crumb-snatcher, and he proceeds to boast about the abilities of mice. Becoming annoyed with Crumb-snatcher's boasting, Puff-jaw invites the mouse to climb onto his back so that the mouse could experience deeper water. The mouse agrees, and the two swim out into the water. However, as they get into deeper water, a snake appears. In fear, Puff-jaw dives below the water leaving Crumb-snatcher to die. In his final words, Crumber-snatcher calls out to Puff-jaw yelling, "On land you would not have been the better man, boxing, or wrestling, or running; but now you have tricked me and cast me in the water."

Homeric Hymns- III. To Apollo:

In Homeric Hymn 3, the goddess Leto is searching for a place to bare her son Apollo. After much searching, the island of Delos agreed to let Leto bare her son on the island. In return, Leto promised that the people of Delos would be rewarded with gifts from strangers, who came to sacrifice to the god Apollo. During festivals on Delos, the Ionians, the people of Delos, held boxing matches to honor the Apollo.

Many are your temples and wooded groves, and all peaks and towering bluffs of lofty mountains and rivers flowing to the sea are dear to you, Phoebus, yet in Delos do you most delight your heart; for there the long robed Ionians gather in your honour with their children and shy wives: mindful, they delight you with boxing and dancing and song, so often as they hold their gathering. (Lines 140-164)

Hesiod's Work and Days:

Hesiod wrote,

"Then I crossed over to Chalcis, to the games of wise Amphidamas where the sons of the great-hearted hero proclaimed and appointed prizes. And there I boast that I gained the victory with a song and carried off an handled tripod which I dedicated to the Muses of Helicon, in the place where they first set me in the way of clear song." (Work and Days Lines 646-663)

Hesiod's Theogony-Lines 404-452:

According to Theogony, Hesiod describes the goddess Hecate.

"Whom she will she greatly aids and advances: she sits by worshipful kings in judgement, and in the assembly whom she will is distinguished among the people. And when men arm themselves for the battle that destroys men, then the goddess is at hand to give victory and grant glory readily to whom she will. Good is she also when men contend at the games, for there too the goddess is with them and profits them: and he who by might and strength gets the victory wins the rich prize easily with joy, and brings glory to his parents."

The Aethiopis:

The Aethiopis is a lost epic of ancient Greek literature that follows the events of Iliad. In the few surviving fragments of the epic, the poem describes Memnon arriving to the battlefield in Troy to fight against the Achaeans. Memnon, wearing armor of Hephaestus, killed Antilochus, son of Nestor, which caused Achilles to become enraged. In his rage, Achilles kills Memnon and proceeds into the gates of Troy to inflict more causalities on Trojan army. As he entered the gates of Troy, Achilles was fatally struck with an arrow shot by Paris, assisted by Apollo. Odysseus and Ajax retrieved the body of Achilles. The Achaeans then hold burial rights for both Antilochus and Achilles. The burial of Achilles is attended by the goddess mother of Achilles, Thetis, along with her sisters and the muses. Following the funerals, the Achaeans honored Achilles death with ceremonial games. In the games, Ajax and Odysseus competed for the title of greatest hero and for the grand prize of Achilles of precious armor.

The Little Iliad:

The Little Iliad is another lost epic of ancient Greek literature that follows the events of the Aethiopis. The epic starts in middle of the funeral games for Achilles with Odysseus and Ajax competing for the amor the Achilles and the title of the greatest hero. After competing back and forth for some time, Odysseus, with the help of Athena, claimed victory over Ajax. Following his defeat, Ajax became mad and committed suicide.

Athletic Contests in Roman Epic:

Funeral Games for Anchises- The Aeneid Book 5:

After leaving Carthage, Aeneas and the Trojans set sail to Italy. However, the Trojans quickly run into a fierce storm that forces them to return to Sicily where Aeneas' father, Anchises, had perished a year previous. Aeneas, taking this unforeseen stop in Sicily as a sign from the gods, declared that the Trojans should honor the gods, feast, and on the ninth day compete in a series of athlete competitions for prizes. On the ninth day, a trumpet blew to signal the start of the games. For the first event, fans gathered from all around to watch four teams race ships in the open-water. In the next event, a set competitors composed of both Sicilians and Trojans competed in a hard fought footrace that was eventually won by Euryalus. Following the footrace, Dares and Entellus faced off in a heated boxing match. The match ended with Aeneas stepping to stop the fight and declaring Entellus the winner. Archery...

Gods and Athletics in Epic:

Themes:

Kleos and Timê :

Main Article: Kleos

Kleos (glory) and Timê (renown) are recurrent themes through out ancient epic. As the heroes progress through the epics, heroes work to achieve honor and glory through their actions, but also through their material possessions. Athletic competitions served as a way to gain glory for the characters in epic. In a historical context, athletes in the ancient Olympics were rewarded with highly valued prizes for their accomplishments. Their legacy's still live on today through statues and monuments constructed in their honor hundreds of years ago. The funeral games in the Iliad and the Aeneid serve as two examples where athletes win material prizes, but also gain the glory and honor associated with the retelling of the story.

Historical Context

Main Article: Ancient Olympic Games

Sports competitions are believed to have taken place over 3,000 years ago at Olympia in Greece; hence, the name the "Olympics". The first written account of the Games dates back to 776 BC. The exact origin and reasons behind the multi-day event is believed to be a result of ensuring peace between the city-states in the Hellenic world. These original games at Olympia gave rise to the Panhellenic Games. The Panhellenic games consisted of four individual "Olympic-Style" competitions held through out the ancient Greek world. The served as a way to bring ancient Greece together.

The games were also held to honor the gods.

Athletes trained to compete in the games starting at very young age. Located in every Greek city, gymnasiums and palaestras provided young Greek males with both a place to learn and to train. However, only the best the athletes were selected to compete in the Olympic games. Once selected, an athlete had to take an oath to compete in an honorable way and to abide by the rules. The athletes competed in a variety of different athletic events such as chariot racing, boxing, and wrestling. An athlete could expect a life of luxury should he win an event. In 600 B.C., an Athenian athlete would receive a large cash prize for victory. In later times victors would receive meals for the rest of their lives. In addition, great athletes could expect to immortalized through out time in much of the same way as the heroes in ancient epic. Statues and tombs celebrating the athletes in ancient Greece can still be seen today.

See Also:

• Funeral games
• Ancient Olympic Games