Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World.

Intro -- Series page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- Addendum to Preface -- List of Figures -- List of Maps -- List of Tables -- Introduction -- Why Sport History? -- Word Games: Conceptualizing Sport and Spectacle -- Challenges: Evidence, Chronology, and Modernism -- Sports and Spectacles as Cultural Performances -- Greece and Rome: Positive and Negative Classicism -- Sports as Spectacle, Spectacles as Sport -- References -- 1 Origins and Essences -- Mesopotamian Combat Sports and Running -- Egypt: Hunting and Sporting Pharaohs -- Royal Hunts as a Near Eastern Tradition -- States and Sports, Empires and Spectacles -- References -- 2 Late Bronze Age Minoans, Hittites, and Mycenaeans -- Minoan Performances: Rites, Contests, or Spectacles? -- Hittite Contests? -- Mycenaean Contests? -- A Sporting Mediterranean World -- References -- 3 Sport in Homer -- Funeral Games for Patroklos: Prizes and Reconciliation -- The Odyssey: Sport and Returning Home -- Epic Sport as Spectacle -- References -- 4 Archaic Greece -- Athletic Festivals: Types and Terms -- Factors and Features in the Growth of Athletics -- Gymnasiums, Hoplites, and Society -- Nudity, Status, and Democracy -- Men, Boys, and Erotic Pursuits -- The Coming of Age of Greek Sport -- References -- 5 In Search of the Ancient Olympics -- The Olympics of Allusion and Illusion -- Modern Myths and Invented Traditions -- The Quagmire of Olympic Origins: Explanations and Excavations -- References -- 6 Ancient Olympia and Its Games -- The Physical Context: Sanctuary and Facilities -- The Olympic Festival: Operation and Administration -- The Program of Contests -- Olympia and Spectacle: Politics, Problems, and Performances -- References -- 7 Panhellenic Sacred Crown Games and More -- Pythian Games -- Isthmian Games -- Nemean Games -- Variations: Local or Civic Games.

References -- 8 Athens -- The Panathenaic Games: Sacred and Civic Athletics -- More Athletic Festivals and Athletic Facilities -- The Sociopolitical History of Athenian Sport -- Contestation, Critics, and Popular Attitudes -- References -- 9 Spartan Sport and Physical Education -- Problematic Evidence -- Physical Education: Building the Body Politic -- Spartan Athletics -- Kyniska: Gender, Politics, and Racing Chariots at Olympia -- Not So Strange Greeks -- References -- 10 Athletes in Greek Society -- Athletic Stars and Stories -- Pindar on Victory and Glory -- Athletes, Social History, and Democratization -- The Lower Half of Society: Not Excluded But Not Competing? -- Meritocratic Athletics in Practice -- Conclusion -- References -- 11 Females and Greek Sport -- The Ancient Evidence: Problems and Perspectives -- Early Greece: Epic and Myth -- Spartan Female Sport -- Athenian Girls' Races or Rites -- The Heraia at Olympia -- The Olympic Ban on Women -- Hellenistic Females and Competition -- Female Athletics in the Roman Empire -- Conclusion: from Rites to Athletics -- References -- 12 Macedon and Hellenistic Sport and Spectacle -- Greeks and Persians -- Philip II: Proclaiming Greekness through Games -- Alexander The Great: Conquests and Spectacular Games -- Hellenistic Sport and Spectacle -- The Hellenistic Legacy -- References -- 13 The Roman Republic -- Etruscan Sport and Spectacle: Ethnicity, Greek Gifts, Roman Roots? -- Roman Festivals and Entertainments -- Chariot Racing at Rome -- Triumphs: Spectacles of Military Victory -- Hunts and Beasts: Conquests and Games -- Gladiators: Roman Rites and Combats -- Early Romans and Greek Sport -- Roman-Hellenistic Spectacular Discourse -- References -- 14 Late Republic and Augustus -- The Meaning of Gladiatorial Combat: Infamy and Virtue -- Sulla, Pompey, and Caesar: Magnificence and Munificence.

Augustus: Consolidation and Imperial Rule Through Shows -- References -- 15 Spectacle, Sport, and the Roman Empire -- Emperors, Spectacles, and Scandals -- Days at the Track: Chariot Racing -- Imperial Triumphs -- Gladiators, Arenas, and Empire -- Beast Hunts: Nature and Empire -- Spectacular Executions: Criminals, Beasts, and Social Order -- Greek Games in the Roman Empire -- Professional Athletes: Guilds, Prizes, and Hadrian -- Assimilation and Accommodation -- References -- 16 Later Sports and Spectacles -- Christian Opposition to Pagan Spectacles -- Roman Reactions to Christians -- The Waning of Institutionalized Shows in the West -- Chariot Racing in the Christian Byzantine Empire -- References -- Conclusion -- Index -- End User License Agreement.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2024. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.