Athletes, heroes, and the quest for immortality in ancient Greece

Victory in an athletic contest in ancient Greece, especially in a prestigious panhellenic festival, brought great status and acclaim to the athlete. Moreover, extraordinary victories by exceptional athletes brought superhuman status, a condition comparable to that of the mythic heroes. Ancient Greek myth emphasized the athletic nature of many heroic figures, imparting to them excellence in contests as well as achievements in battle or other endeavors. This athletic component of a hero's identity allowed for ready comparisons between the accomplishments of the ancient heroes and the achievements of historical athletes. Consequently, a few extremely successful athletes during Greece's Archaic and Classical periods received posthumous heroic cults. The accoutrements of victory, such as the victory crown, the epinician ode, and the victory statue likened the victor to the immortal heroes. In addition, the spatial organization of the panhellenic sanctuaries, as well as other athletic fields, closely connected the world of the living athletes with the accomplishments of the deceased heroes. Finally, the importance of founding and sponsoring athletic competitions, especially significant for the tyrants of the Archaic period, provided a means for powerful and wealthy rulers to associate themselves with the victory of athletic contests with no risk of defeat.;The athletic heroes are generally limited to a period in the late Archaic and early Classical periods, when large portions of ancient Greece were struggling with social and political upheaval. As glorified individuals, athletic victors embodied the ideals of the aristocratic elite but also could impart their kudos and kleos to communities as civic heroes. The power of victory and its ability to justify and legitimize political power was not lost on the aristocratic and non-aristocratic forces in ancient Greece, and each side vied to capitalize on the immense power of prestigious kleos. Despite these social and political rivalries, powerful and successful athletes sought their own heroic honors through their individual quests for kleos and immortality.