2004 Olympics

[ruthaki]

Here's some quotes from David Gilman Romano on "Philip of Macedon, Aleander the Great, and the Ancient Olympic Games" : "Macedonian interest in the ancient Olympic 'Games is known as early as ca. 500B.C. when Alexander 1, son of Amyntas (later king of Macedonia) and an ancestor of Phlip, competed at Olympia in the stadion race..Herodotus explained that Alexander I was not allowed to compete until he had proven his greek descent to the officials at Olympia. (Herodotus 'History" 5.22) In 356 B.C. Philip II (age 26)won the first of 3 euestrian victories at Olympia in the keles (horse race). He commemorated his victory by issuing silver coinage with image of Olympian Zeus on obverse and victorious horse and jockey on the revers. Philip also won chariot victories at Olympia in either 2-yorse chariot synoris or 4-horse chariot tethrippon in 352 and 348 BC. (he was not the jockey or charioteer and wasn't even at the site but was a 'sponsor'.)Alexander's birth co-incided with one of these wins. Shortly after Philip founded new Olympic festivals in Macedonia at Aigai and Dion, modelled on the Peloponnesian festival.He also built a lavish structure at Olympia in the heart of the sacred aspect of sanctuary of Zeus (after fall of Greece at Chaeronea) and statues of philip and Alexander were set there as well as one of Amyntas, Philips' father. This building is the Philippeion. (Philip's building). It is generally agreed that Alexander was physically strong and muscular (what would be termed 'athletic' in modern day) however he never competed in the Olympic Games. Plutarch recounts a number of anecdotes about Alexander. "Being nimble and swift of foot, he was urged by his father to run in the stadion race at the Olympic Games. "Yes, I would run," he said, "if I were to have kings as competitors." (Plutarch "Moralia, 179.2)Although he didn't compete in the Games he came to associate himself with Olympia in a number of wasy both during his lifetime and after his death. He also continued the Games at Aigai and Dion, adding contests inpoetry and music and wild beast shows...