“In the ancient world, chariot races were one of the best and most exciting events,” says Neufeld.Īnother similarity between the ancient games and today’s games? Different sports came and went over time. Today’s pentathlon includes a very different format composed of pistol shooting, fencing, a swimming race, equestrian show jumping and a 3,200-metre cross-country run.įew events brought people to their feet like the chariot races – so often celebrated in Hollywood movies. The first pentathlons included a running race length, discus throw, long jump, javelin throw and, finally, a wrestling match between the two top athletes in the previous events. “They also had a sport called pankration, which was a mixture of boxing and wrestling,” says Neufeld – essentially a Greek version of mixed martial arts. “In fact, the Greeks looked down upon those who exercised clothed as ‘barbarians.’”Īttire aside, many of the running races and other track and field events, as well as wrestling and boxing, remain relatively unchanged. “It was one of the most important elements of the games,” says Neufeld, noting that training and competing nude was a source of pride. With the Olympic Games currently underway in Tokyo, there’s also discussion surrounding the competition’s ancient roots.Ĭompared to the ancient world, some Olympic events haven’t changed that much, though Greek athletes originally competed in all stadium events in the nude. Without understanding the bigger pictures, you only get an isolated look.” “I'm an archaeologist so context is everything. “What is their social status? What political significance is behind hosting these games? What religious significance is there? We interrogate further for our understanding of the Greek and Roman world. “We look at the competitors,” says Neufeld. In the class, students explore the role of athletic contests and religious festivals in ancient Greek and Roman societies, examining the athletic events’ political, social and religious impacts. It’s taught by PhD candidate Naomi Neufeld. The third-year course, offered by the department of classics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, is called Sport & Festival. As they watch the Olympic Games in Japan, a group of University of Toronto students is learning about the origins and historical significance of such athletic competitions, which began almost 3,000 years ago.
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