Transcript Equestrian Events

Equestrian Events
Hippikos Agon
Tethrippon (four-horse chariot) 680-
Keles (horseback) 648Apene (mule-cart race) 500-444
Kalpe (horseback and running) 496-444
Synoris (two-horse chariot) 408Poloi (races for foals)
tethrippon polikon 384
synoris polikon 264
keles polikon 256
Lasted only 14 Olympiads
Chariot
Race of
Pelops
Detail from
an Athenian
red-figure
clay vase,
about 410 BC.
Arezzo,
Museo
Nazionale
Archeologico
1460
The chariot-race from the funerary games in honor of Patroclus.
Depicted on an Attic black-figure goblet, the work of Sophilus, ca.
580-570 BC. Found in Pharsala. Athens, National Archaeological
Museum. Ministry of Culture, Archaeological Resources Fund.
See Arete #1 Who wins?
Chariot Race
•
•
•
•
•
Diomedes
Antilochos
Menelaos
Meriones
Eumelos
Chariot Race at
Patroclus’
Funeral
Francois Vase
volute krater
by Kleitias and
Ergotimos
ca. 575 BC
Florence
Archaeological
Museum
See Miller #50 for description
Hippodrome Features
Aphesis
Altar with Eagle
Dolphin
Taraxippos
Kampter (Hippodamia)
but no spina
Hippodromen at Olympia
Chariot race in Sophocles’ Electra: Arete #49
Aristocrats and Racing: Aristophanes’ Clouds See Arete #47
The Charioteer of Delphi
•Polyzalos of Gela
•Victor in the 470s (478 or 474)
•‘Polyzalos, victorious with his
horses (chariot) dedicated me / son of
Deinomenes, whom make prosper,
honoured Apollo’
•‘Polyzalos, lord of Gela, dedicated
(this) memorial …’
• which was erased, presumably
because of his claim to Gela (a Greek
colony in Sicily) and embarrassment
over his tyranny.
Cast in seven separate pieces of bronze.
The sculpture was Sotades.
The statue is 1.8 m high.
His eyes are made of onyx.
The lips are made of copper.
His head band is impressed in silver.
The left hand is missing.
So are the chariot and the horses.
Note the taenia knot.
Other famous victors:
Alcibiades of Athens:
Entered 7 teams in
416 and won 1, 2, 3,
and 4 place
Kyniska of Sparta
(Arete #97b)
Pheidolas and Breeze
(Arete 51)
Nero the Emperor
postponed games
from 65 to 67 so he
could compete with
10-horse team