Oiled, but not nude
August 7, 2004 8:41 AM Subscribe
If you don't expect the Olympics to keep it real, you may appreciate the Nemean Games.
I was there at the first (modern) Nemean Games in 1996, and it was one of my best experiences thus far.
Reading the racy graffiti left by ancient athlete in the entrance tunnel; running the first long run of my life from the temple of heracles though the greek countryside, in through that tunnel to the ancient stadium to the cheers of the crowd; old men and young women, sprinting barefoot in the ancient lanes. Dancing with the locals; talking to archeaologists and classicists who can link the old place and the new; standing in the ancient temple.
It's too easy to say the modern olympics aren't true to the spirit of the old, and it's not that simple. I will however say that participating in the Nemean Games gave me a feeling for the ancient traditions and concepts like arete that is much more direct than that offered by the spectacle of the Olympics.
I highly recommend participating or in them or something like them if you ever have the chance. Or even just visiting the site - there's a neat little museum and all kinds of interesting research projects underway.
Hiking up Mt. Olympus was a connection to an environmental and physical past I value deeply, but the Nemean games was a connection to something deeply and warmly human.
heh - I think I'm actually in that picture of the tunnel on the page...ah, youth - I almost miss my post-college jesus beard...
posted by freebird at 10:31 AM on August 7, 2004
Reading the racy graffiti left by ancient athlete in the entrance tunnel; running the first long run of my life from the temple of heracles though the greek countryside, in through that tunnel to the ancient stadium to the cheers of the crowd; old men and young women, sprinting barefoot in the ancient lanes. Dancing with the locals; talking to archeaologists and classicists who can link the old place and the new; standing in the ancient temple.
It's too easy to say the modern olympics aren't true to the spirit of the old, and it's not that simple. I will however say that participating in the Nemean Games gave me a feeling for the ancient traditions and concepts like arete that is much more direct than that offered by the spectacle of the Olympics.
I highly recommend participating or in them or something like them if you ever have the chance. Or even just visiting the site - there's a neat little museum and all kinds of interesting research projects underway.
Hiking up Mt. Olympus was a connection to an environmental and physical past I value deeply, but the Nemean games was a connection to something deeply and warmly human.
heh - I think I'm actually in that picture of the tunnel on the page...ah, youth - I almost miss my post-college jesus beard...
posted by freebird at 10:31 AM on August 7, 2004
Still, aren't they all supposed to be naked?
posted by interrobang at 12:49 PM on August 7, 2004
posted by interrobang at 12:49 PM on August 7, 2004
Reading the racy graffiti left by ancient athlete in the entrance tunnel
Do you happen to remember any of it, freebird?
posted by cmonkey at 2:58 PM on August 7, 2004
Do you happen to remember any of it, freebird?
posted by cmonkey at 2:58 PM on August 7, 2004
Cool post, PinkStainlessTail, I liked learning the history of the games.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:30 AM on August 8, 2004
posted by madamjujujive at 8:30 AM on August 8, 2004
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posted by Joey Michaels at 9:05 AM on August 7, 2004