|
| |
Competing for Olive Oil at the Games of a Warrior Goddess: Sport in Ancient Democratic Athens
Seminar Date: Thursday 11 June 2026 @ 7pm Melbourne
Location: Online (Facebook & YouTube)
Presenter: Prof David M. Pritchard Language of Presentation: English
Entry: FREE |
|
|
| |
Abstract
The Olympics were not actually the biggest Games in ancient Greece. This honour went to the Games that the ancient Athenians staged for Athena, who was their cherished warrior goddess. But the Great Panathenaea – the name of these local games – had three mysterious features: winners got many thousands of litres of olive oil as prizes, there were unique sporting events that not even the Olympics had, and many other events were extremely warlike or involved the actual armed forces. This illustrated public lecture solves these three mysteries by exploring the decidedly colourful myths about this famous warrior goddess. The lecture also gives a sweeping overview of the rich sporting world of ancient democratic Athens.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Prof David M. Pritchard
Associate Professor David M. Pritchard teaches Olympic history at the University of Queensland. His first job as an ancient historian was on the cultural program of the Sydney Olympic Games. He is the author of three sole-authored books, including Sport, Democracy and War in Classical Athens (Cambridge University Press), and the editor of four edited books, including Sport and Festival in Ancient Greek World (Classical Press of Wales). He has obtained sixteen research fellowships in Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the US. In 2026-7 he will be the Leverhulme Visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh. He speaks on radio and regularly writes for newspapers around the world.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Join us online
This is an online only event, you can join via YouTube or Facebook live from 7pm. We advise you connect a couple of minutes earlier. Join our speaker online, submit questions during the Q&A and enjoy a great lecture from the comfort of your own home. We look forward to seeing you online.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Sponsors
This seminar is generously sponsored by Joseph Tsalanidis. During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice. You too can donate for one or more seminars and (optionally) let your name or brand be known as a patron of culture to our members, visitors and followers, as well as the broader artistic and cultural community of Melbourne. Please email: info@greekcommunity.com.au or call 03 9662 2722. We thank the following corporate sponsors:
|
|
|
|
|
| |
See the Full 2026 Seminar Schedule
The Greek History and Culture Seminars are organised and hosted by The Greek Community of Melbourne and provide the opportunity for everyone to experience the long and fascinating history of Greece and Greek culture in its various forms and stages, aspects of which have formed the foundation of Western civilisation.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Greek Community of Melbourne is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Non-Profits Commission ABN 14004258360
|
|
|
|
|
|
