Improving the Public Image through Athletics. Dr. SebastianScharff Young Victors in Hellenistic Thebes
http://mafas.geschichte.uni-mannheim.de/athletes/
Structure of the talk Introductory remarks An agonistic profile of Hellenistic Thebes Hellenistic victor epigrams and the agonistic self-representation of Theban athletes Agonistic success and political decline in Hellenistic Thebes
Victories of Theban athletes in the Hellenistic period Discipline Number heavy events 30 running events 9 pentathlon 4 equestrian events 2 total 45
Victories of Theban athletes in ‘heavy events’ in the Hellenistic period Number pankration 19 boxing 7 wrestling 4 total 30
Hellenistic victories of Theban athletes according to their age categories Age category Number boys + beardless 16 + 8 = 24 men 18 without age category 3 total 45
Chronological distribution of Theban victories in sacred crown games Century Crown contests Number of victories 4th (since ca. 338) Pythia Isthmia Nemea total 3 2 7 3rd Olympia 1 9 2nd - 1st
Pol. XXXIX 7 Πυθέας ἦν μὲν ἀδελφὸς Ἀκαστί- δου τοῦ σταδιέως, υἱὸς δὲ Κλε- ομνάστου, κακῶς δὲ βεβιωκὼς καὶ δοκῶν ἑαυτῷ παρακεχρῆσ-θαι τὴν πρώτην ἡλικίαν, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ κατὰ τὴν πολιτείαν θρα-σὺς καὶ πλεονέκτης καὶ δι᾽ Εὐ-μένους καὶ Φιλεταίρου σεσωμα- τοποιημένος διὰ τὰς προειρη- μένας αἰτίας. Pytheas was a brother of Acas- tidas the runner, and son of Cle- ommnastus. He had led an evil life, and was reported to have wasted the flower of his youth in unnatural debauchery. In political life also he was audacious and grasping, and had been supported by Eumenes and Philetaerus for these very reasons.