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Women in the olympics research paper
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As the ancient civilizations of the west grew their empires, they encountered something so powerful, beastly, and strong that no man could hold down with his own two bare hands, nor could they be tamed. As centuries go on, men learned the ways of the horse and learned to ride upon their backs. They found them to be a key component in transportation, carrying goods, and warfare. As time went on, for every footprint of a human left behind in the wet mud, there was a hoof print not far from the footprint. Ancient Greeks believe that the horse was a gift from the gods, and they were greatly valued in their society. During that whole time men were only written about riding and taming these creatures, not women. Ancient Greece was a civilization where men did all the rough tasks while women stayed home caring for kids and cleaning. In that world characterized by male dominance, one woman stood out. Kyniska of Sparta was the most important visionary for woman’s’ rights because of her understanding of class structure through participating in the Olympic Games. She became the first woman ever to win the four-horse chariot race with her own bred and tamed horses.
Kyniska was born around 440 B.C.E in Sparta, an Ancient Greek city-state. She was the daughter and princess of a Eurpontid King, Archidamus II (“Genus Kyniska”, n.d., p.2). She was well known for one thing and one thing only, her Olympic victory. She won the 96th and 97th Olympic chariot race based off of official records (supportforstudents.msu.edu, n.d., p.1). She was also well known for a famous quote that was documented during one of her winning ceremonies. “My fathers and brothers were kings of Sparta. I, Kyniska, victories with my chariot of fleet horses, erected this st...
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Kyle, D. G. (2002). Kyniska of Sparta-Engendering Olympic Victory?. InPROCEEDINGS AND NEWSLETTER-NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR SPORT HISTORY (pp. 34-35).
Kyle, D. G. (2003). " The Only Woman in All Greece": Kyniska, Agesilaus, Alcibiades and Olympia. Journal of Sport History, 30, 183-204.
The olympic games in ancient greece. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.britishmuseum.org/PDF/british_museum_olympic_games.pdf
Quijada Plubins , R. (2013, March 6). Chariot. Retrieved from http://www.ancient.eu.com/chariot/
R. Ingersoll, K. (2008). Cynisca's olympic victories. Retrieved from http://www.camws.org/meeting/2008/program/abstracts/06f2.Ingersoll.html
Yellow, R. (2008, May 14). History of ancient olympic games. Retrieved from http://www.sportinglife360.com/index.php/history-of-ancient-olympic-games-3-51708/
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.
Bury, J. B.; Russell Meiggs (2000). A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great
In the city of a Sparta is a statue of a legend that left behind and attributed a vast of history of a king who was recognized and feared by always getting all he wanted even if the methods were deviant. Respected for keeping his head up in the worst of the challenges he faced. The name of this icon was Leonidas, a king from the ancient Sparta who was a fierce leader and showed the world what it needs to gain the respect of its people.
Sparta was a key city state which was located on the Peloponnesian Peninsula in southern Greek, which today is referred to as Laconia. Sparta is historically known for their strong military training, warfare tactics, and numerous victories. This city state included full citizens known as the Spartans, the helots, and the Perioeci. The men of Sparta had a main obligation to become strong warriors, fight with their brothers, and protect against any invasions or attacks. The helots where owned by city state of Sparta. They came from Messenia and were forced into slavery after being invaded by the Spartans in c.735. The helot’s responsibilities included farming, being of help if needed during battles, used as nurses, and for any other task that need to be accomplished. Unlike many traditional slaves, the Messenia’s were given certain leeway. They had
Peterson, Lauren Hackworth, and Patricia Salzman-Mitchell. Mothering and Motherhood in Ancient Greece. Austin: UT Press, 2012. E-book.
Lefkowitz, Mary R., and Maureen B. Fant. Women's Life in Greece and Rome. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 2005.
of the book. USA: Simon and Schuster, Inc. 2000. The.. Print. The.. Blundell, Sue. Women in Ancient Greece.
...herself as a man and has misogynistic tendencies. Fortunately, the role of women in society today has changed very much from the roles that they played in classical mythology. Women are now seen as being able to play any role they desire, whether it is the role of a housewife or the role of a workingwoman with a successful career. It is no surprise that achieving the roles that women play today took such a long time when for so long even in mythology women’s roles in society were constantly pushed in the direction of domestics and when for so long women were portrayed as less then pleasant creatures. The fact that these sorts of roles were pushed on women in the Greco-Roman society was proof enough that it was a patriarchal society. It is astoundingly wonderful that the roles that women play in modern society have evolved so much since the times of classical myths.
It is widely known that women were simply not allowed to attend these games, however, we all bore witness to Cynisca of Sparta become the first woman to win an olympic event! Women are typically only allowed to attend the games in regards to equestrian events and even then they were not allowed to run in the games; women were only permitted to attend if they owned or trained the horses that would be in the game. Cynisca’s participation, and eventual win, has now seemingly become the symbol for societal progress for women. As the chariots neared the disastrous turns at the end of the hippodrome, sections of the crowd held their breath while others cheered from sheer excitement. Every team knew that each approach to a turn could be the end of the race for them, possibly even the end of their lives. As Cynisca’s chariot rounded the first turn, her horses strained forward, accelerating and reaching a dangerous speed. We witnessed numerous teams get taken out while advancing towards the turns by crashing with opposing teams; were these crashes intentional? Although purposefully crashing into an opponent is illegal, we all know it has happened at one point or another! Steadily yet rapidly, Cynisca’s team overtook their opponents and showed no signs of letting up. As they passed the last chariot, the wheels bumped and squealed against those of her opponent. The audience shot to their feet in awe and disbelief; they had just bore witness to the first female winner of the chariot
Archibald, Zofia. Discovering the World of the Ancient Greeks. New York: Facts On File, 1991. Print.
When thinking of ancient Greece, images of revolutionary contrapposto sculpture, ornate lecture halls, and great philosophers in togas are sure to come to mind. As the birthplace of democracy and western philosophy, ancient Greece has had an inordinate influence on the progression of the modern world. However, the ancient Greeks’ treatment of women is seemingly at direct odds with their progressive and idealistic society.
...rces, but in the historic years their founder is said to be Oxylos whose descendant Ifitos later rejuvenated the games. According to tradition, the Olympic Games began in 776 B.C. when Ifitos made a treaty with Lycourgos the king and famous legislator of Sparta and Cleisthenes the king of Pissa (Coote p. 13). The text of the treaty was written on a disc and kept in the Heraion. In this treaty that was the decisive event for the development of the sanctuary as a Panhellenic centre, the "sacred truce" was agreed, that is to say the ceasing of fighting in the entire Greek world for as long as the Olympic Games were on. As a reward for the victors, the cotinus, which was a wreath made from a branch of wild olive tree that was growing next to the opisthodomus of the temple of Zeus in the sacred Altis, was established after an order of the Delphic oracle.
"Unhandled Exception." Ancient Greece - History, Mythology, Art, War, Culture, Society, and Architecture. 2008. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. .
Women in the ancient world had few rights, they differed from country to country or, in the case of the women of Athens and Sparta, from city-state to the city-state. The women of the city-states of Athens and Sparta had profound differences in their roles in the political and the daily lives of their families and their cities. When it came to the difference in levels of power and the rights of women, Sparta was a leader in its time. At the same time, their rights as citizens were almost the same. While they did not take an active part in politics, they had opinions and ideas like women all over the world. Their thoughts, deeds, and opinions rarely recorded or if they were, the male historians or philosophers of the time recorded them. What were roles did the women in ancient Athens and Sparta? Were they citizens, did they have personal freedoms? On the other hand, did they in a time when the beginnings of democracy were happening were they less than a second-class citizen? The misogyny and patriarchal societies continued throughout the ancient and classical periods only beginning to change in the Hellenistic era.
6. GREEN, Peter, A Concise History Of Ancient Greece To The Close Of The Classical Era, Thames & Hudson, London, 1991