INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

origin of the winners were formed to promote the participation in the
games and to justify the winners as models in people’s conscience 39 .
We can see how serious it was for the polis to form perfect
citizens in the political ideas about “the perfect politeia”, which were
particularly developed in 4 th century B.C. by the philosophers Plato
and Aristotle. Both consider that it is the legislator’s duty to take care
of the citizens, so that they become good and nice through practice in
virtue. This depends on physical and mental well being and is attained
through the participation in peaceful contests of free people. Thus,
physical bravery and mental harmony are joined in the high model of
virtue, which is an expression of completeness and perfection. In this
sense, the athletic games also serve a conscious social function, since
the victory elevates the athlete in his fellow-citizens’ conscience and
matches his exploit with old heroes and athletes, tying him with his
descent and traditions. Thus, it makes him almost a semi-god and
heightens the polis itself, the gods, and the political institutions.
We should not, nevertheless, forget that the Games in Olympia,
Isthmia, Delphi, and Nemea, were explicitly associated with religion,
although it has also been suggested that they came from the ritual
contests in honour of dead warriors 40 . The mythical model of gods‘
and heroes’ contests can prove the religious character of the games.
This can also be conveyed by the choice of ritual sites for the
establishment of athletic activities and by the heroic cult of the
winners. Besides, most contests in ancient Greece were placed in a
religious context, just like the dramatic competitions. Thus, the virtue
that is pursued by athletes is dressed in a deeply religious gown, as the
victory graces the winner with divinity and so he becomes a votive
offering to the god 41 .
The Roman times indicate a serious change in the character of the
games, which are now universal 42 . The Roman populus preferred
chariot races and gladiatorial fights, the Roman ludi. The Games
become professional and the prize money is now the rule 43 . In 2 nd - 3 rd
centuries AD more than 500 games are known from inscriptions,
literary texts and coins. Many of these games were imitating the big
Greek games 44 . Another factor for this numerical increase was the cult
of the rulers – gods that created new festivals and contests. Names like
Augusteia, Sebasteia, Hadrianeia, Commodeia show the close
relationship between the Emperor and the games 45 .
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