This thorough historical study must be of interest to any sport enthusiast as well as to history scholars and professional athletes. The first part of this book is dedicated solely to the history of Greek athletics. The second part is more technical, though it may perhaps appeal to those who are actively interested in athletics. It consists of a number of chapters, each complete in itself, dealing with the details of Greek athletics.
Content:
History of Greek Athletics and Athletic Festivals From the Earliest Times to 393 A.D.
Athletics in Homer
The Rise of the Athletic Festival
The Age of Athletic Festivals, Sixth Century B.C.
The Age of the Athletic Ideal, 500-440 B.C.
Professionalism and Specialization, 440-338 B.C.
The Decline of Athletics, 338-146 B.C.
Athletics under the Romans
The Olympic Festival
The Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean Festivals
The Athletic Festivals of Athens
The Athletic Exercises of the Greeks
The Stadium
The Foot-Race
The Jump and Halteres
Throwing the Diskos
Throwing the Javelin
The Pentathlon
Wrestling
Boxing
The Pankration
The Hippodrome
The Gymnasium and the Palaestra