With the Olympics kicking off tonight, I thought it would be nice to note that one of our subjects had an important hand in the ancient games. Well, maybe. According to Plutarch, Lycurgus of Sparta 'contrived the ordinance for the cessation of arms during the solemnity of the Olympic games'. In other words, he convinced the various city states that the time of the Olympic celebration should be one of peace. There are also legends that the tradition of holding the Olympic games had stopped and Lycurgus was instrumental in restarting them.
I say maybe because Plutarch goes on to say:
Erastothenes and Apollodorus and other chronologers computing the time by the successions of the Spartan kings, pretend to demonstrate that he was much more ancient than the institution of the Olympic games.
So who really know? By the way, one of the best things about Plutarch is that he gives voices to dissenting historians. In any case, as you watch the games, maybe give a little thanks to the ancients that thought up the whole delightful idea in the first place.
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