Athletic Events in Antiquity

Olympic Games are the most significant Pan-Hellenic celebration held since 776 BC until the end of 4th century. They were dedicated to Zeus and were held in July every four years in Olympia (the Elis district). At the time of the games any warring parties called truce. In the period of five days the following sport competitions were held: pentathlon, running, jumping, javelin throw, discus throw, wrestling, chariot racing, racing with heavy weaponry, and boxing. Winners were rewarded with wreaths of wild olive.

Pythian Games are a Pan-Hellenic celebration held established in the 6th century BC in honour of god Apollo for slaying the Python. They were conducted every four years in August in Delphi. The Pythian Games included poetry contests, athletic events and chariot races. Winners were crowned with laurel wreaths.

Nemean Games are a Pan-Hellenic celebration held in July every four years since 6th century BC in the Nemean valley, Argolis, where the sanctuary of Zeus was. They were established by Heracles after his first great deed- killing the Nemean lion. Athletic events and chariot races were conducted and later on were supplemented by music contests. Winners were crowned with wreaths of pine branches.

The Games held in Philippopolis

According to the epigraphic and numismatic monuments games similar to the Pythian Games in Greece were held in the town. To honour the visit of the Roman emperor Caracalla in 214 the games were called Alexandrian while the games for the visit of emperor Elagabalus in 218 were called Kedrisian Games.

The games were organised by the General Assembly of the province of Thrace. In their honour the royal mint of Philippopolis coined money featuring the face of the ruling emperor as well as the types of athletic events held in the Ancient Stadium. A marble slab stone was found during the excavations of the sfendona proving that there were games celebrating the favourite man of emperor Hadrian – Antinous. The votive tablet dedicated to Antinous is exibited in the Regional Archaeological Museum - Plovdiv.

Athletes competed in two categories of age – men and boys. Agonothetes (organisers of the sport events) presided over the games. The latter started with a contest for criers and buglers. Sporting events were usually accompanied by music, poetry and art contests.

A metric epitaph belonging to the second half of 2nd century and the beginning of 3rd mentions the poet Maximus of Apamea called ”the favourite of Thrace and the world”. He was the winner in a number of poetic contests not only in Philippopolis but also in other Roman provinces. Nevertheless, he settled down in Philippopolis for the rest of his life, where he was buried along with a statue of Apollo from Kedrisia.

Maya Martinova-Kjutova, archaeologist