Reconstruction of part of the Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia, site of the ancient Olympic Games.
The Classics Department offers a major in either Greek or Latin, or both ancient languages together. Believing strongly that the languages must be situated within their social contexts, we encourage students to explore offerings in Philosophy, History, Art History, Linguistics, Theatre, and Archaeology as well. Classic majors have oppportunities to study abroad at the Center for Intercollegiate Studies in Rome, College Year in Athens, Oxford University. |
Diotima: Materials for the Study of Women and Gender in the Ancient World.
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Did you know ?
...that the ancient Olympic games were part of a religious festival? ...that, like many recurring athletic competitions in the ancient world, they were founded and celebrated as a ritual re-enactment of the death of a hero? ...that the ancient Olympic games began at sunset the night before the first events with the women of Elis singing a ritual lament for Achilles, greatest of the Greek heroes? (Pelops, not Achilles, was the actual object of cult worship at the Olympic sanctuary, and Elis is the town which controlled the actual sanctuary).
...that, in most cases, ancient Greek athletes competed naked, but one event was a footrace in full armor--this in the hottest part of summer? ...that athletes competed for honor for themselves, their city-states, and their families, winning a crown of olive leaves made from the sacred olive tree adjacent to the Temple of Zeus? Apparently, they had no opportunity for product endorsements, nor did they go to Disneyworld!
...that the Olympic Games were one of four early pan-hellenic celebrations in ancient Greece (Delphi, Nemea, and Isthmia were the other three), that they drew particpants and spectators from the entire Greek world, including and especially Sicily, that all awarded a crown of some sort of vegetation for first prize? The Athenians, who were late-comers to the sponsorship of pan-hellenic festivals, initiated the practice of giving material rewards to the victors. Prizes were black figure vases (amphora) filled with oil from state-owned sacred olive trees. The most prestigious competition was the four-horse chariot race, which, consequently, was awarded the most valuable prize. The value of the oil awarded for this race exceeded $100,000.00 of our money. Needless to say, these Pan Athenaic Games quickly aroused interest, pehaps changing forever our expectations about the glory of sport.
For more information about the archeological discoveries at Nemea, site of one of the 'crown games' of the ancient Greek world, check out this site established by Prof. Stephen Miller at Berekely, who has supervised the excavations there for the last 20 years. Click here.
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