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The word "athletics" is derived from the Greek verb "to struggle or to suffer for a prize." As Nigel Spivey reveals in this engaging account of the Olympics in ancient Greece, "suffer" is putting it mildly. Indeed, the Olympics were not so much a graceful display of Greek beauty as a war fought 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, the author notes, 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. The author explores what the events were, the rules for competitors, training and diet, the pervasiveness of cheating and bribery, the prizes on offer, the exclusion of "barbarians," and protocols on pederasty. He also peels back the mythology surrounding the games today and investigates where our current conception of the Olympics has come from and how the Greek notions of beauty and competitiveness have influenced our modern culture.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Excellence in Research
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

Thank God They're Going to England, Not New York!
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. ... Read more

Product Description
What was it like to live in ancient Greece? What gods and goddesses did Greeks believe in? How did the Olympics start? What was the winner’s prize? Find out the answers to these questions and many more in this Magic Tree House Research Guide. Includes fun facts from Jack and Annie, fantastic photos and illustrations, and a guide to doing further research! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

As the 2010 Olympics Unfold
As the 2010 olymipcs unfold in Canada I wanted to learn more about what the games are all about.

Here you learn about daily life in ancient greece, Greek gods; zeus, hera, athena, and more.The olympic grounds and the different summer games.

Now after reading this book in this great series I understand the olympics better.Now lets go watch the games.yeaaa.

Sneaking fun into learning with Magic Tree House
These books make learning history fun, especially with the companion story books that can be used with them, and the Magic Tree House website even offers a few free activity pages as well.I only wish I'd discovered this series sooner for the sake of my older children!

What a great addition to MTH!
I was so excited when I came across these 'research guides' in a used book store, they are a wonderful addition!My kids have enjoyed the series so much, but the books are a little young for some fans, but they love getting the research guide to deepen their understanding of the settings and get good background information.With the summer Olympics upcoming, I made sure to have this research guide available before school ended.

Great stand-alone as well as companion book
In a recent survey of my school students, grades K through 4, Magic Tree House books won hands down as the favorite, with a strong showing in all five grade levels. The Research Guides are an excellent addition to a library collection. The connection with Jack and Annie is enough to hook any and all readers of the fiction series. But the research guides stand on their own as informative and fascinating reading. Fact-filled and thoroughly readable, these are excellent references for any reports as well as suppement to the fiction book for which it is companion.
The table of contents and index are useful, as is a list of suggested web sites and CD-ROM's, videos, books, and even museums. Best of all are the tips for making the most of each reference, for example, take your notebook to the museum, and it isn't necessary to read the entire non-fiction book. Photographs and drawings are plentiful and right on the mark.

review on ancient greece and the olyimpics
(......)My Summaryon AncientGreece and the Olympics4/13/05
Bookby Mary popeosborne




This book is abouttwokids Jake and Annie are kids who like to find thing out about theTitanic,twisters, and the Olympics.

In this book they want to find out about ancient Greece and the Olympics. So in this book going backin the past and try and figure out how the Olympics worked in the past.


Ilike the book becauseit gives youthe idea of what the people in Greece lived. The book over all the book is great.

I recommend this book so that boys and girls age 10-14 can read this book. It is so greatthat I want to read itagain.
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Product Description
This is the first comprehensive examination of Olympic victor lists. The origins, development, content, and structure of Olympic victor lists are explored and explained, and a number of important questions, such as the source and reliability of the year of 776 for the first Olympics, are addressed. Olympic victor lists emerge as a clearly defined type of literature that is best understood as a group of closely related texts. ... Read more

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The ancient Greeks were famous for their love of competition and athleticism. Their most important sporting festival, held at Olympia and honoring Zeus, became the inspiration for our modern Olympic games. It was open to the citizens of every Greek polis, and became so important, that all warfare had to be suspended for its duration.

This book runs through the entire five-day session of the ancient games. The athletes' training and the actual sporting events--some familiar, some quite strange to the modern reader--are described in vivid detail and illustrated with both classical art from the collections of the British Museum and photographs of the modern Games. Day Two, for instance, starts with morning activities (a procession into the hippodrome, chariot and horse races), followed by the afternoon pentathlon events (discus, javelin, running, jumping, and wrestling), and ends with the evening celebration (winners' parade, victory hymns, feast, and revels). Supplemental sidebars--such as Homer's description of Odysseus' triumphant discus throw and an explanation of why athletes and trainers had to appear naked--add lively, colorful detail. Commentary on the modern Games and a running comparison of modern and ancient athletic events is scattered throughout the book, providing an important historical perspective on today's Olympics. Three supplemental chapters--"Women at the Olympics," "Games Elsewhere in Greece," and "The End of the Olympics"--complete this fascinating look at ancient Greek customs, competitive spirit, and character. ... Read more

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What was it like to attend the ancient Olympic Games?

With the summer Olympics’ return to Athens, Tony Perrottet delves into the ancient world and lets the Greek Games begin again. The acclaimed author of Pagan Holiday brings attitude, erudition, and humor to the fascinating story of the original Olympic festival, tracking the event day by day to re-create the experience in all its compelling spectacle.

Using firsthand reports and little-known sources—including an actual Handbook for a Sports Coach used by the Greeks—The Naked Olympics creates a vivid picture of an extravaganza performed before as many as forty thousand people, featuring contests as timeless as the javelin throw and as exotic as the chariot race.

Peeling away the layers of myth, Perrottet lays bare the ancient sporting experience—including the round-the-clock bacchanal inside the tents of the Olympic Village, the all-male nude workouts under the statue of Eros, and history’s first corruption scandals involving athletes. Featuring sometimes scandalous cameos by sports enthusiasts Plato, Socrates, and Herodotus, The Naked Olympics offers essential insight into today’s Games and an unforgettable guide to the world’s first and most influential athletic festival.

"Just in time for the modern Olympic games to return to Greece this summer for the first time in more than a century, Tony Perrottet offers up a diverting primer on the Olympics of the ancient kind….Well researched; his sources are as solid as sources come.It's also well writen….Perhaps no book of the season will show us so briefly and entertainingly just how complete is our inheritance from the Greeks, vulgarity and all."
--The Washington Post ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

The truth about the Olympics
I've never been a sports fan, so I thought I might find this book rather a bore.But in fact there isn't a dull moment in this very entertaining account of what the Olympic Games were like in ancient Greece.

It is fascinating to learn that the games themselves were only a part of the events that took place, with religious celebrations predominating. Enormous numbers of animals were sacrificed to the gods in the course of the games. The events were a lot more colourful than the modern Olympics, with violence and bloodshed not uncommon.Men competed in the events naked, which you may or may not find an agreeable thought.Married women were not allowed to attend the Games, though women had their own seperate festival where foot races were run.Single women were allowed to attend, and there were prostitutes in plenty.

This is the sort of book I love, packed with fascinating facts that make me exclaim "Gosh, I never knew that!" at frequent intervals.Well worth reading.

Pretty much a drawn-out high school school book report
When I picked up this book (thankfully from the library), I thought that, like any decent non-fiction book, a book about the Ancient Olympics would probably be written by someone who knew what he was talking about.Nope.This guy is not a classical scholar.His "primary sources" are all translations.Further, he began studying the Ancient Olympics explicitly for the purpose of writing this book, which means he does not have a broad background of knowledge.

The book is essentially a very long list of regurgitated facts about the games.While the facts themselves are interesting, the writer is not.He didn't have enough to say to fill up an entire book, so he repeats many of the facts throughout the text.His style of presentation is completely unispired and a little disorganized.Further, there are obvious errors.The most glaring exmaple is the discussion of the javelin throw.Perrottet wrote, "Ancient authors claimed that throws of over 90 meters/270 feet were possible, about half the length of the Stadium and far beyond the modern record of 60 meters." (110)Remember that old game from "Highlights" magazine, "What's Wrong With This Picture?".Let's play.First - no source given on the measurement.Second - elsewhere in the text the author claims the Greeks didn't much care about measurements, throws were generally not measured, and ancient measurements should not be given much worth.Third -90 meters is not 270 feet!.90 meters is about 295 feet.The 270 figure is not even close.If he said "over 90 meters/300 feet" I would buy that as about right, but the 270 feet figure is simply inexcusable.Fourth - the modern javelin record is not 60 meters .That's two egregious factual errors in the same sentence.The modern javelin world record is 98.48 meters.This isn't just a boo-boo typo.It means the author's entire claim - that the ancient javelin went further - is completely bogus.Why should I believe any of the other things this guy wrote down?

Whipping away the shroud of time
"The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games" by Tony Perrottet is a wonderful book describing the ancient Greek games. It's aptly titled, too, in two different ways. First, in the ancient Olympics, the contestants performed nude, without clothing that would prevent spectators from admiring their glorious physiques. But more importantly, Perrottet lifts the respectable veneer that is so often draped over classical times. Many writers have difficulties describing the past. Either they write with such awe that the ancients seem to have been gods, instead of mortals, or the writers write in such a way that we seem to be viewing through a dust-covered lens that makes everything seem old and faded.

Perrottet, though, brings the past alive in a way that makes the reader see and hear and even taste, feel and smell - especially smell! - what it was like to participate in these ancient games. Through a variety of different ancient sources, including contemporary texts, vase paintings, statues and a visit to the ruins of Olympia, he is able to give us a well-rounded experience. He guides us through the importance of the games in honoring the gods, how athletes trained, including specific, faddish diets that they followed, the evolution of the different events, the role that women played (unfortunately very little), the discomfort felt by the crowds, and even how physicians treated injuries. "The Naked Olympics" is great fun, and even though the Olympics are not being held in Athens this year, it's worth reading this book to appreciate them wherever they take place (the winter Olympics are taking place in Turin, Italy in 2006).

A Good Read
The more books I read about ancient history, the more I come to realize that the best ones are NOT written by historians!Archaeologist Tony Perrottet does a great job describing life in Ancient Greece and the evolution of sport in western society.

I picked this up right after the '04 games in Athens, still in the grip of Olympics fever.But don't wait until '08 to read this wonderful book.

Appropriate release time
Now that the summer Olympics are upon us, this book, which tells the reader about the original Greek Olympoics in Olympia, is particularly welcome. It goes through a typical Olympics, showing the religious aspects of the games, and also the various events that were held.It doesn't stint on the darker side of the games, but the approach to the book is rather light-hearted, and even with that a lot of new information is imparted to the reader. It's well worth reading, and I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
For more than a millennium, the ancient Olympics captured the imaginations of the Greeks, until a Christianized Rome terminated the competitions in the fourth century AD. But the Olympic ideal did not die and this book is a succinct history of the ancient Olympics and their modern resurgence.



Classics professor David Young, who has researched the subject for over 25 years, reveals how the ancient Olympics evolved from modest beginnings into a grand festival, attracting hundreds of highly trained athletes, tens of thousands of spectators, and the finest artists and poets. ... Read more

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In this revised and enlarged edition of her indispensable guide to the ancient Games, Judith Swaddling traces their mythological and religious origins, and describes the events, the sacred ceremony, and the celebrations that were an essential part of the Olympic festival. A large, detailed model based on modern research and excavation reconstructs the site of ancient Olympia, where alongside religious and civic buildings there grew an elaborate sports complex with a stadium for 40,000 spectators, indoor and outdoor training facilities, hot and cold baths, a swimming pool, and a race course. Later chapters cover the diet and medical treatment of athletes, sponsorship, patronage, propaganda, and revivals of the Games. The last additional chapter on the modern Games is written in collaboration with Stewart Binns, an expert in this field who has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee over many years. Eleven additional archival photographs chart the major landmarks in the Olympics over the last hundred years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

great service great product
i bought this for my greek civilization class. The book was delivered promptly and in perfect condition.Great Seller

Olympia & the Ancient Games
When you buy a book that deals with a certain subject, you look for a few things that make the book worth your time. You want the book to give you the feeling of the time, you want to be entertained, you want to learn things, and have an easy reading experience. This book passes with high marks on all cases. Now, granted this book is not that long, but in some ways that's the beauty of the work.

If you are truly interested in the Ancient Olympic games, then I vow to you that this is the book to buy!!! The book is presented well and does not become dull from the start to the finish.

thank you for your time ... Read more

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This title discusses topics such as the ancient Olympic events, what the stadium looked like and ancient Olympic ceremonies.

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An account of the Olympic games as they probably occurred in 400 B.C. when they were at the height of their classic glory. ... Read more

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Presenting a survey of sports in ancient Greece, this work describes ancient sporting events and games. It considers the role of women and amateurs in ancient athletics, and explores the impact of these games on art, literature and politics. ... Read more

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In the 75th Olympiad by Greek reckoning, the strongest, fastest, quickest and most agile men in Hellas gathered at Olympia to celebrate life through athletic competition.That same year, 480 BCE by our reckoning, the Persian Emprie ruled the known world save for that small peninsula dominated by a dozen democratic city-states.To avenge the defeat of his father on the plain of Marathon 10 years earlier, Xerxes, the Great King amassed an army a million men strong to bring these free states to heel.Amid the cheering crowds, the sweat, dust and blood on the Elisian fields of friendly strife, and threatened by the impending clash of armies with the fate of Western Civilization in the balance, two men, one a boxer, the other a poet, come to the revelation that the true worth of a man is based on more than what he does for himself.The Olympian explores a little known reason why only 300 Spartans faced a million men in the Thermopylae Pass, and stands as tribute to those extraordinary warriors who waged a battle that saved Western culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

this is more than a tale
the writing and style reminds me of S. Pressfield and all the great authors who turn history into a readable story.Its brings you into the characters lives, you become to know them and make a connection with them personally.I can't get enoough of this style.

The Olympian: An ancient story with meaning for today
In 'The Olympian', author E. S. Kraay masterfully takes the reader back to an ancient world.Obviously well-versed in his subject, Mr. Kraay intertwines themes involving characters from long ago.Difficult as this task is, the real art to the work is keeping the story completely relevant to the world of today.The self-absorption of athletes, the disproportionate glorification of their accomplishments, the pitfalls of judging others, the purity of sacrifice for the common good--the reader will find ancient events most meaningful in the twenty first century.
'The Olympian' is a terrific read.My hat is off to E. S. Kraay.

From Ancient Greece to Today's Headlines
"The Olympian" tells the story of a celebrated Olympic athlete from the point of view of a poet who not only saw his performance in the Games but accompanied him to one of civilization's defining moments and watched the effect on him.As I read this book, the author's paralleling the third century BC with today's sport's headlines became clear; excellence in sport is nice, but excellence in living is so much more. If your knowledge of Greek history and the Battle of Thermopylae come from "The 300," this book needs to be in your collection.
The subject of "The Olympian," Theagenes, was what we would call a natural athlete. His obsession was to be the absolute best at his sport, which would bring him everlasting glory and fame. He happens to cross paths with Simonides of Ceos, one of Hellenistic Greece's nine lyric poets; the story is told through Simonides' eyes and memory. The memory of Theagenes, now dead, has been sullied by events in his home city, and a delegation of men is returning from the oracle at Pythia when they happen to meet Simonides. Their journey, and the story that Simonides tells, forms the heart of the book.
Gene Kraay avoids one of the more annoying traits of modern authors; he never yields to the temptation to fill their mouths with today's words. This is a scholarly book, as befits a man whose poems are still quoted today. One never hears modern slang from any of the characters. The settings and backstory are appropriate. Their effect is to bring the reader into the world of Hellas and to appreciate that their lives and aspirations aren't very different from ours today.
If I haven't been crystal clear about my opinion, I reiterate --buy this book so that you may read it again and again. I hope that every journey will evoke some new thought and every journey will bring you joy.

Beguiling
Fine writing with attention to the historical record, but the thing that struck me was the personal, introspective musings of the poet and boxer.Dulcet prose in the Pressfield (Gates of Fire) style, which I enjoy greatly.The brutal Olympian strangely paired with the gentle philosopher, finally reconciling in the aftermath of Thermopylae.Some slow spots, but generally irresistible.

A must read for Greek historical fiction enthusiasts.

A must read for all!
I believe E.S Kraay's "The Olympian: A Tale of Ancient Hellas" is a classic. E.S. Kraay brought ancient Greece alive from the moment that Simonides started his story I was hooked and finished the book over the weekend. A very easy read and well written it will have you traveling though ancient Hellas and wishing the adventure would not end. You will witness the characters grow and one you may even hate until the end. I won't give that away but I didn't see it coming. Thank you Mr. E. S. Kraay ... Read more

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This book follows the development of sports through the centuries, from ancient times to today.

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This text explores the ancient Olympic Games, enabling students to link the origins of the Games to their modern equivalent. ... Read more

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The Winner''s Wreath is an exciting tale about a young boxer from Thrace, who enters the Olympic Games, and about how he achieves his goal. The story provides insight into how the ancient Olympic Games were run, and what it was like to take part.' ... Read more

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Countless volumes have been written about Greek civilisation, its achievements, and its significance for the modern world. Anyone wishing to read a systematic, well-documented account of the history and meaning of sport in ancient Greece, however, would have difficulty in finding the relevant books. Ekdotike Athenon felt it incumbent upon itself to present a complete picture of the history of sport and of the Olympic Games, as part of its series of publications. To this end, the aid has been sought of all the specialists who would be able to offer the reader an authoritative account both of the history of the Games, and also of the historical and archaeological data that illuminate this history and make it possible to interpret it. It would be difficult, however, for even the most competent historian to bring to life the world of sport and athletic games without the aid of illustrations. A uniquely rich series of plates and drawings has therefore been included, which will enable the reader to follow the text with ease, and to form a complete and living picture of athletics in Ancient Greece.It is our belief that this volume will be of value and interest to lovers of sport, of the ancient world and of art, and to specialists alike. ... Read more

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Part of a series that explores the Olympic Games, ancient and modern, enabling children to link the origins of the games to their modern equivalent. Each book features in-depth profiles of a particular role or job at the Games, factboxes and message boards detailing announcements, lists and quotes. The books link together history, geography, sport and citizenship and tie in with the Olympic Games to be held in Greece in 2004. This title looks at the origin of the Games, where they were held, the sporting events, and how these were different from a modern-day idea of a sporting event. ... Read more