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Zusatztext Scanlon's excellent new study of the sexual dimension in Greek sport ... Thomas Scanlon's richly informative book represents a culmination of a lifetime's study of ancient athletics. Klappentext Ancient Greek athletics offer us a clear window on many important aspects of ancient culture, some of which have distinct parallels with modern sports and their place in our society. Ancient athletics were closely connected with religion, the formation of young men and women in their genderroles, and the construction of sexuality. Eros was, from one perspective, a major god of the gymnasium where homoerotic liaisons reinforced the traditional hierarchies of Greek culture. But Eros in the athletic sphere was also a symbol of life-affirming friendship and even of political freedom inthe face of tyranny. Greek athletic culture was not so much a field of dreams as a field of desire, where fervent competition for honor was balanced by cooperation for common social goals. Eros and Greek Athletics is the first in-depth study of Greek body culture as manifest in its athletics, sexuality, and gender formation. In this comprehensive overview, Thomas F. Scanlon explores when and how athletics was linked with religion, upbringing, gender, sexuality, and social values in anevolution from Homer until the Roman period. Scanlon shows that males and females made different uses of the same contests, that pederasty and athletic nudity were fostered by an athletic revolution beginning in the late seventh century B.C., and that public athletic festivals may be seen asquasi-dramatic performances of the human tension between desire and death. Accessibly written and full of insights that will challenge long-held assumptions about ancient sport, Eros and Greek Athletics will appeal to readers interested in ancient and modern sports, religion, sexuality, and genderstudies. Zusammenfassung Greek athletics offers a clear window on many important aspects of ancient culture. Thomas F. Scanlon's comprehensive overview of Greek athletics explores when and how athletics was linked with religion, upbringing, gender, sexuality, and social values in an evolution from Homer until the Roman period. It presents original findings of importance to all those interested in ancient and modern sports, religion, gender studies, sexuality, and cultural studies generally. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1: Introduction 2: Greek Athletics and Religion 3: The Ecumenical Olympics: The Games in the Roman Era 4: Athletics, Initiation, and Pederasty 5: Racing for Hera: A Girls' Contest at Olympia 6: "Only We Produce Men": Spartan Female Athletics and Eugenics 7: Race or Chase of "the Bears" at Brauron? 8: Atalanta and Athletic Myths of Gender 9: Eros and Greek Athletics 10: Drama, Death, and Desire in Athletic Performance 11: Conclusions ...
