Athletries: The Untold History of Ancient Greek Women Athletes [Paperback]

Anne Reese (Author), Irini Vallera-Rickerson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003

From women bull-jumping in Minoan Crete and ancient Sparta -- where girls wrestled in the nude alongside boys -- to women competing in full armour in chariot races, this book presents ancient women as much more than sisters, wives, and mothers. Focusing on an area that has long been dominated by men, this book documents women's participation in the ancient Greek world of sports in an effort to reconstruct and present a full and equitable picture of women in history as capable, independent thinkers and valuable contributors to ancient Greek society. Included is a complete list gathered from ancient texts, inscriptions, art, and artefacts of women winners and the festivals and events in which they were victorious.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anne Reese studied anthropology at the University of Washington in Seattle. Irini Vallera-Rickerson is a tenured professor of art history and the former art gallery director at Orange Coast College. They both live in Orange County, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 189 pages
• Publisher: Nightowl Publications (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971498407
• ISBN-13: 978-0971498402
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,355,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Laurel Wreath for Athletries, August 19, 2003

By 

Troy Harmon (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Athletries: The Untold History of Ancient Greek Women Athletes (Paperback)

Athletries is a well-illustrated, well-versed panorama of the ancient Olympic games with copious historical documentation. Moreover, besides its excellent review of the games generally, this book specifically details the role that women played in those ancient tournaments, placing them back on their earned pedestals, trumping the too-long-held assumption that women were non-existent beyond the hearth of the ancient world. The inclusion of copies of the actual Ancient Greek inscriptions (translated into Modern Greek and English), evincing the triumphs of women athletes, establishes this book's credibility in stone. The authors even include a pronunciation guide for the "it's-all-Greek-to-me" crowd, making an already accessible book more so. With the coming Olympic games, to be held once again in Athens, Greece, the timing of a book that reviews that competition's history is ideal--to enlighten readers that the spirit of that ancient contest was one shared by both men and women is essential.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greek Women Athletes, May 28, 2003

By 

Vinta Shumway (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Athletries: The Untold History of Ancient Greek Women Athletes (Paperback)

I read this book in our college library. Though it was obvious that the authors had done a lot of research, the book was easy to read and included great graphics. I came away with a deep appreciation for the role of women in this ancient society and in the history of the world. This is a book that would appeal to both men and women and to all ages, including young adults. It should be in public and academic libraries.

5.0 out of 5 stars "Real-life Indiana Jones" reviews Athletries, May 6, 2010

By 

E. G. Stickel (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Athletries: The Untold History of Ancient Greek Women Athletes (Paperback)

Dr. E. Gary Stickel, the Archaeologist whom the London Times called "The real-life Indiana Jones" because he helped LucasFilm with their production of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and the Indiana Jones film series, says the following of the book entitled, Athletries: The Unknown History of Ancient Greek Women by Anne Reese and Irini Vallera-Rickerson:
The book is extraordinary and it is a revelation. I have been studying ancient Greek archaeology for many years and have even conducted an excavation at the legendary birthplace of Achilles at the site of Achilleion, and I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I was unaware of these ancient Greek women athletes and their accomplishments at the ancient Olympic Games and at the other Games in Greece. It is amazing to me that the achievements of these exceptional women had been forgotten and ignored until now. The book is well researched and documented, and it is a good testament to the authors that they have righted this wrong so that the ancient women will now receive the credit that is due to them. People everywhere (both men and women) can now appreciate their historic accomplishments. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in sports, the history of sports, the Olympic Games, and to giving women the place they deserve in world history - a history which has been dominated, in this case in a detrimental way, by men for far too long. Kudos to the authors for enlightening us and straightening our history out!