Regarding leisure and sport during the Classical period, it is important to comment on the Olympic Games. Although this event has morphed since its inception in 776 B.C. it is still known throughout the world today. The first Olympic Games were held in the Greek city of Olympia, ninety miles west of Athens. The games were originally a religious ceremony to honor the Greek god, Zeus. Boxing, wrestling, and sprinting were just some of the events that were included in the early years of the Olympics. The games continued for over a thousand years before an empire turning towards Christianity abolished them. This new government rejected the ‘pagan origins’ of the games. It wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century when Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympics and returned them to Greece. He is quoted as saying ‘The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important things in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well’ (‘Long History of the Olympic Games’). The tra...
Since 776 BCE, the Olympics have been a way for people of different cultures to come together and compete in friendly competition. In 1892 the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, although it had been over a thousand years since the last game it still had brought together an assortment of different religions and ethnic groups together. Many factors shaping the Olympic Games reflect the changes that have taken place in our world since the last game in 393 CE in Greece such changes include woman’s suffrage, global economy, world wars, and proving competency.
Athletic events at this time were also closely related to the religious beliefs and practices of the Greek citizens. Each competition was devoted to a specific pagan god. For example, the patron of the Olympics was Zeus. The Greeks believed that the physical strength and ability of athletes was a direct gift from the gods (http://www.meiaconcerto.com/olympic/olympia/ideal_o.php, September 27, 2004). Therefore, each athlete competed not only in honor of his city-state, but also in honor of the gods.
Early Greek Olympics were not immune to the political virus. They used the Olympics to show off their prominent cities and to gain support from their communities. Durin...
“It is universally accepted that 776 B.C. was the year the festival at Olympia, in honor of Zeus, became known as the Olympics, and the period of four years between celebrations became an Olympiad (Zimmerman 1984).” Yet the precise circumstances surrounding the creation of the ancient Olympics are still shrouded in mystery. Several myths encompassin...
Professor Chris Pelling of UCL wrote The Ancient Olympics. In addition, the author is a member of the UCL Department of Greek and Latin. In this article, the author describe and explain how sports were more than a competition in the ancient Greece. His hypothesis was that sports were a way to get honor and power instead of just competing. It represents more than a simple crown of leaves and olive-branch at the Olympics. It gave power, fame and honor to the athlete and their home city. In addition, they were awarded with many material rewards such as money, and women. For instance, the primary method employed in this research consisted
This single verse provides evidence of how the country villa provides an essential space for the pursuit of his favourite leisure activity – his art. The therapeutic powers of being away from his hurly burly, patron/client lifestyle of the city is also clear. As a working farm the hierarchical structure of the Roman empire allowed Horace to engage staff. Thus, allowing time for writing, inspiration and relaxation. Horace’s joy at his move to his country villa also ties in with the opinion of Lafargue, Aristotle and Epicurus, as to the value of leisure,
In the past the Olympic games were used as a way for the Greeks to honor their gods. Today the games are not an honoring but more of a social gathering. What’s great about the games today is that everyone has equal opportunity to compete. No matter your gender, size, ethnicity, or wealth, all you have to do is work hard and
The Classical Era lasted from approximately 1775-1825, which is when Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart became famous. The classical era was also known as the Age of Enlightenment. Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu wrote the value of the common person and the power of human reasoning in overcoming problems. The music of the Classical Era reflects the principles of clarity, proportion, and what critics of the day called “naturalness.” During the Classical Era, performing publically was the new view in the way music should be written for the common person. Church music tended to be more conservative than secular compositions. Three composers kind of dominated the Classical Era which are Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Modern Day Olympics are a huge tradition that sweeps the screens of televisions across the world. Competitors take the arena with uniforms that dawn their countries colors and designs that are meant to resemble their designated flag. For months the news is centered around the games; the preparation, the athletes, and of course the competition. Countries aren 't obsessed, they are inspired and full of pride seeing athletes from their country compete and show their incredible skill. This tradition dates back to ancient Greece where the games began. Tony Perrottet writes about the traditions of the ancient game in his book The Naked Olympics.
The Olympic games is a series of events that takes place every two and four years that originated in Greece to honor the Greek gods (Cartledge 1). The Olympics is an inspirational contest where many nations of the world come together and compete. This pertains to the athletic competitors who have trained for years to enter the Olympics. This includes swimmers, boxers, hockey players, runners, cyclists, ice-skating, figure skating, and many other sports (Cartledge 2). The Olympics have changed since ancient times because of technology, innovations, and a broader audience.
Cultural, societal and technological movements in America defined leisure as we know it today. All facets of life including religion, education and government played a part in shaping modern leisure. Several events in particular played a major role: the philosophical views of ancient Greece, the shifts in religious beliefs during the Protestant Reformation, the major technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution, and the overall rapid growth of society during the early 1900s. Through these events, leisure played drastically different roles but its significance was apparent and we can still feel its influences today.
Many of the games we play today is of ancient origin and even then provided mass entertainment of fans. In the beginning, ancient sports like the Olympic Games started out as rituals to honor gods or a leader and later developed into public events with festivals that surrounded the games (Jewell, Moti, & Coates, 2012). Today festivals are still seen during the Olympics Games, pre-game and post-game activities are held for NFL games, and fan’s host parties on game day surrounding favorite sporting events. Interesting, ancient sporting events began as a way to help individuals prepare for warfare. Individuals in ancient spots competed to help prepare themselves for military fighting, t...
Introduction Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest pageant of athletic skill and competitive spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerce and politics. Well-known throughout the world the games have been used to promote understanding and friendship among nations, but have also been a hotbed of political disputes and boycotts. The Olympic games started thousands of years ago and lasted over a millennium.. The symbolic power of the Games lived on after their demise, and came to life again as the modern Olympic Games being revived in the last century. Both the modern and Ancient Olympics have close similarities in there purpose and in there problems.
The study of leisure and recreation exist to improve the quality of people’s lives. Leisure is a key part of our lives. When we involve ourselves in leisure activities that satisfies us. We improve in creativity and self-control through these activities. We also get the sense of freedom, achievement and confidence. Leisure gives us the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and develop new skills. In the field of study of leisure and recreation, it focuses on the variety of recreational activities. Those activities that are involved in leisure tend to be rewarding to one’s health and the community. Leisure activities are chosen by every individual, the activities can be done where people feel more comfortable with people you enjoy surrounding
The Olympic Games were a vital part of Greek culture which was heavily influenced by athletics. Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest presentation of athletic skill and competitive spirit. Thousands of athletes and spectators participate in this universal event. Revived in 1896, the Olympic Games had their beginnings in ancient Greece, and since then the event is very much comparable to modern Olympic events.