Olympia: Cult, Sport, and Ancient Festival [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Ulrich Sinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2000

In antiquity Olympia stood for sports. A victory at the Olympic games led to lifelong honors and often to a political career and wealth. Alexander the Great and other kings and emperors as well as wealthy and powerful men and women financed the games by erecting religious and civic monuments. Numerous ancient sources provide lively reports about Olympia: activities in the sports arenas, the rites of the games, the reactions of the visitors. Still, many mysteries remain: When and why was the Olympian fire extinguished? Why are there so many arms found in a place that is famous for its Olympian peace? Olympia is situated in the western corner of Greece; why is it filled with oriental art? Some answers can be found in archaeological excavations. The author, Ulrich Sinn, has been responsible for major archaeological work; some of the latest is described in this book for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ulrich Sinn is Mr. Olympia." --Edward Champlin, Princeton University, author of Final Judgments: Duty and Emotion in Roman Wills

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Introduction: German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: Markus Wiener Publishers (July 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155876240X
• ISBN-13: 978-1558762404
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,565,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars press and reviews for Olympia, June 2, 2006

By 

history buff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Olympia: Cult, Sport, and Ancient Festival (Paperback)

"Sinn (University of Wurzburg) has directed several important excavations at Olympia, and here he "tries to sketch [Olympia's] develop-ment into the arguably most famous sanctuary in the Mediterranean." Sinn argues that Olympia was not always a place for famous athletic games; and by the time written records appear at-testing its fame for athletics, the sanctuary was already 400 years old. In summarizing the extant records on Olympia, then, Sinn is particularly concerned to reveal details about worship at the sanctuary in its earliest times. In thirteen succinct chapters, Sinn summarizes what is known about the origins of Olympia, the struggles for power over it, worship at the oracle, the athletic games, how different philosophers reacted to Olympia's image, particularly of the athletes, how festivals and games attracted tourists and what they did, and Olympia's benefactors, such as Alexander the Great, Mummius, and Nero. Although Sinn focuses on primarily Greek Olympia, i.e., until the Romans overtake it, he gives an overview and helpful chronological summary (through the sixth century CE) in the last chapter. With glossa-ries of personalities in Greek and Roman history and mythology, this is probably the most accessi-ble introduction to and overview of Greek Olympia.

Religious Studies Review"

Karen A. Elliott

Athens, Greece

"The following review appeared in the March 2001 issue of CHOICE:

This work of a German archaeologist (Univ. ofWurzburg) who has been active in excavations at the site of the ancient Olympic Games has relatively little to do with sport activities. The greater part of the book describes the history of various buildings and monuments and the role of the site in Greek religion, society, and politics. Olympia was important in Greek life and respected by all Greeks, as well as by Macedonians and Romans. Its oracle imparted war advice, cult activities at Olympia brought together Greeks widely separated geographically, a Pan Hellenic arbitration court was established there, Greeks occasionally battled for control of the sanctuary, the site expanded in size and complexity with time, and earthquakes and floods threatened its existence. Information not generally found in other books is presented, for example, assertions that the Olympic Games continued until early in the fifth century CE and that academic classes were conducted in the palaestra. The book should appeal to general readers interested in ancient history, but history specialists will be frustrated by its lack of notes and reference citations, and sport historians, by its minor emphasis on sporting events, athletes, and spectators."

R. McGehee, Concordia University at Austin