INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

offers precious information especially on folklore. Thus it researches
the origin of many idols, of marriage, of divine service, grammar,
poetry (...), many professions and last the origin of physical
performance and the Greek National Games. 9 The different Latin
editions and several translations are a proof of the widespread
dissemination of this lexicon. 10
The article about the Olympic Games describes the site, the origin
of the games and the festivities. The text presented here is taken from
the Basel-Edition dated 1575, the first edition from 1499 could not be
provided (yet).
In addition the games are mentioned in a book printed in Germany
in 1516. One can find them in the oldest work about games: in the
opusculum enchiridion appelatum Joannis Aquilae ferme de omni
ludorum genere, Oppenheim 1516 (a small handbook by Johannes
AQUILA about all kinds of games). 11 At the end of the introduction one
can find “one poem by Peter Gunther, which describes the importance
of the games”. 12
The games are mentioned for the first time in French by Robert
GARNIER. In his tragedy Cornélie 13 it reads:
Comme un qui veut paroistre honorable des siens,
Pour le prix de la lutte, au jeux Olympiens,
Devant qu‘entrer en place oingt les espaules d‘huile,
S‘exerce longuement pour estre plus agile. 14
This work is translated and published in 1595 by Thomas KYD 15 .
Pompey the Great, his faire Cornelias Tragedie includes the first
mention of the Olympic Games.
Like them that (Trying at th‘Olympian sports
To grace themselves with honour of the game)
Annoynt their sinews fit for wrestling,
And (ere they enter) vse some exercise. 16
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