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He explores the original Olympics as experienced by athletes and spectators, from the moment purple-clad heralds announced the sacred games, to ancient workout routines and diet plans, the details of the often-brutal contests, the wild festivities, and the clean-up afterwards. I learned a lot and had fun all along the way!
Aug 04, Eric rated it liked it.
A good historical reference for many of the interesting Olympic traditions that have come about because of the ancient games in Greece. Although the author can be quite dry and boring at times, there are numerous adequate references and cited material for many of the now similar Olympic events that took place in ancient Greece.
Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. What was it like to attend the ancient Olympic Games? Excellent short soup to nuts treatment of the Olympic Games on Antiquity. More By and About This Author. Well researched; his sources are as solid as sources come.
Not a very stimulating or exciting read but one that is helpful to understanding the Olympic traditions. May 18, Clark Knowles rated it really liked it. Fantastic book. For anyone who follows the Olympics, this is a must read. The ancient Olympics ran for years--mind boggling, really. Tony Perrottet reveals the bloody, drunken, naked religious and athletic festival in all its glory. It sounds like a cliche, but he really does allow the reader to "feel like they are there. Dec 13, Nathan rated it it was ok Shelves: aquinas-library , random-histories , history.
A lighthearted popular history of the original Olympic Games that should appeal mainly to armchair enthusiasts of Greek history. While impressive scholarship or exhaustive research is not the order of the day, there is enough to satisfy - and entertain - the casual reader. Jan 02, Paige rated it liked it Recommends it for: history buffs. Shelves: non-fiction.
I wasn't sure how to rate this. At first I liked it, as it was very informative. But I guess it got a little graphic for me, and it later became a little uncomfortable for me to read Feb 14, Alix rated it really liked it. A bit repetitive at times, but for a nonfiction book this was pretty good.
I actually enjoyed the time I spent reading it and it was the perfect mix between story and fact. Would recommend, even though I doubt I will ever read it again. Jul 31, Tina rated it liked it Shelves: history , books. Some interesting tidbits about the Ancient Olympics, a little dry in parts.
Nov 27, Catherine rated it it was amazing. Great read during my trip to Greece which included a visit to Olympia. Sep 21, Kathy Wojo rated it it was amazing Shelves: history. Such a fun book to read! I borrowed this book from my library but will now buy it so when the next Olympics come around I can dazzle my friends with fascinating tidbits of Olympic history.
Jun 15, Jennifer rated it really liked it. I would give this book a 3. Perrottet covers many aspects of the original Olympics despite the difficulty of finding primary sources. Good historical overview. Feb 24, Colin rated it it was amazing Shelves: scholarly-works. A friend got me a copy of this book signed by the author and inscribed to me - it's pretty cool. Feb 24, Thany rated it really liked it. Interesting read, even for someone who couldn't care less about the Olympics.
Apr 23, Kimberly rated it really liked it. Excellent short soup to nuts treatment of the Olympic Games on Antiquity. Crisply executed.
Good read. Apr 06, Alec rated it it was amazing. Tony Perrottet has a great ability to describe ancient life in a vivid and entertaining manner. I really liked this book! Aug 14, Diane rated it it was ok. An interesting book about the early Olympics in Greece. Jun 10, Jenine rated it really liked it.
A brisk review of the history of the ancient Greek Olympic games.
I was happy to see this author's appreciation of Courtesans and Fishcakes. Feb 24, Laurie rated it really liked it Shelves: , non-fiction. Very interesting facts about the ancient Olympics. They weren't like I really thought at all. Well worth reading. Oct 12, Marilyn Shapiro rated it liked it. Good read, especially in conjunction with our recent trip to Greece and the visit to the Olympic stadium. Daniel Potts rated it liked it Apr 07, There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Perrottet's vivid cinematic prose not only delivers encyclopedic intelligence of the ancient games but spirits you back in time with such immediacy that you can smell the sweat and feel the hot Greek sun.
It is a fascinating picture and popular history at its best. A seasoned traveller, Perrottet follows all the highways and byways of ancient Olympic lore.
He really makes you feel what it was like to be at the ancient Olympics, conjuring up the sights, sounds and smells especially the smells of the Games with a sure and vivid touch. The Naked Olympics would be just the thing to cover your nakedness as you watch the Athens Olympics or go to visit the ancient site of Olympia - figleaves need not apply.
There were no team sports in the first Olympics, no torch marathon - that staple of the modern games was the brainchild of Adolf Hitler - and there was certainly no spandex. The original Olympics , travel writer Tony Perrottet tells us in this fun, light-hearted primer on the Greek competition that began it all, competed buck naked. Except, that is, for a generous coating of olive oil.
Wrestling, sprinting, boxing and chariot racing were the center-ring events of the competition, which ran uninterrupted and largely unaltered for 1, years, beginning in B. Released to coincide with this summer's Athens games, The Naked Olympics is an engaging history lesson on an event that has apparently always been as much about pomp and politics as it has about superhuman strength.
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For the love of Zeus 2. The Greek sports craze 3. Countdown 4. The Olympic boot camp 5. Trials of the ancient sports fan 6. Scenes from the fringe 7.