Olympia

Auteurs

• Professor Judith M Barringer

Paramètres

• Thème historique

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The memory of ancient Olympia endures through the modern Olympic Games, but its significance extended beyond athletics. In this comprehensive and richly illustrated history, the author explores Olympia as a vital site in the ancient Greek and Roman world, where athletic competitions intertwined with essential religious and political activities. The narrative details the evolution of the Altis, Olympia's most sacred area, where monuments to victorious athletes mingled with those honoring the gods and military triumphs. Rival city-states and rulers erected monuments to assert their prominence, forge alliances, and engage in a lasting dialogue with the past. Olympia's political relevance paralleled its status as the largest sanctuary dedicated to Zeus, the king of the gods. As the god of warfare, Zeus's oracle was consulted for favorable omens in battle, while the athletic games mirrored the competitive spirit of warfare. Other deities and heroes, including Hera, Artemis, and Herakles, were also venerated at Olympia. Drawing on extensive archaeological evidence, the author chronicles Olympia's history from the first monumental structures around 600 BC to its gradual decline in the late Christianized Roman empire. With maps and diagrams, this work vividly brings Olympia's development to life for contemporary readers.

Achat du livre

• Année de publication: 2021
• Reliure: (rigide)