| Ancient Greek Athletics Contributor(s): Miller, Stephen G. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0300115296 ISBN-13: 9780300115291 Publisher: Yale University Press OUR PRICE: $29.70 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: May 2006 Annotation: What was it like at the opening night of Mozart's "Don Giovanni or "Wagner's "Das Rheingold? "This glittering introduction to the world of opera takes us behind the scenes during premiere performances of five extraordinary operas. "A rare and wonderful cultural history."-- Philip Kennicott, "Washington Post ""An absorbing tangle of minutiae about performing circumstances, personalities, conventions, expectations, critical responses, gossip. . . . This book is readable. Addictively."-- Michael White, "Opera Now ""This thoroughly enjoyable and informative book will delight all opera lovers; highly recommended."-- "Library Journal" |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Sports & Recreation | History - History | Ancient - Greece |
| Dewey: 796.094 |
| Physical Information: 0.65" H x 7.03" W x 9.77" (1.38 lbs) 288 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) - Cultural Region - Greece |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: A comprehensive survey of sports in ancient Greece, available just in time for the Summer Olympics in Athens The earliest Olympic games began more than twenty-five-hundred years ago. What were they like, how were they organized, who participated? Were ancient sports a means of preparing youth for warfare? In this lavishly illustrated book, a world expert on ancient Greek athletics provides the first comprehensive introduction to the subject, vividly describing ancient sporting events and games and exploring their impact on art, literature, and politics. Using a wide array of ancient sources, written and visual, and including recent archaeological discoveries, Stephen Miller reconstructs ancient Greek athletic festivals and the details of specific athletic events. He also explores broader themes, including the role of women in ancient athletics, the place of amateurism, and the relationship between athletic events and social and political life. Published in the year the modern Olympic Games return to Athens, this book will be a source of information and enjoyment for anyone interested in the history of athletics and the origins of the world's most famous sporting event. |