“Sport: a major theme in Greek art”

The lecture “Sport: a major theme in Greek art” covering the first Olympic Games in 776 BCE is organized on Monday, October 12, 2026 at 6:30 pm.

­Jean-Paul Thuillier
Historian specializing in Etruscan civilization and ancient sport.
Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Sciences at the École Normale Supérieure

The official date established for the birth of the Olympic Games is 776 BCE; while this date is open to debate on archaeological grounds, it marks a pivotal moment depicted in the Homeric epics, and the sanctuary of Olympia would forever remain the premier site of Greek sport. One might also wonder about the choice of this location, which is—at first glance—less spectacular than that of Delphi.

Initially, the Olympic program consisted of only a single event: the “stadion“, a sprint covering a distance slightly under 200 meters. Over the following decades, the program expanded to include various races—both equestrian and athletic—combat sports (boxing, wrestling, and “pankration“), and the pentathlon, a multi-event competition that was an original Greek creation. However, unlike other Panhellenic contests such as those at Delphi, musical or artistic competitions were never held at Olympia.
In Greek society—often described as “agonistic” (characterized by a spirit of competition)—sport remained a major theme in art; one need only consider masterpieces such as Myron’s “Discobolus” or the “Charioteer of Delphi”.

Full price €12
Student €5
Payment by cash or check – bank cards not accepted