TY - CHAP

T1 - Without Dust

AU - Nielsen, Thomas Heine

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - In ancient Greek competitive sport, an athlete could be crowned as victor even if he had not in fact defeated an opponent. This could happen, e.g., if nobody else registered for a competition, out of fear of a star or for other reasons. Such victories won against no opposition were described as won akoniti, “without dust”. “Dustless” victories were celebrated just as triumphantly as more regular victories, or even more so. Clearly, what mattered to Greek athletes was victory, not participation per se. This point is demonstrated by brief discussions of the careers of eight athletes known to have achieved victories without dust.

AB - In ancient Greek competitive sport, an athlete could be crowned as victor even if he had not in fact defeated an opponent. This could happen, e.g., if nobody else registered for a competition, out of fear of a star or for other reasons. Such victories won against no opposition were described as won akoniti, “without dust”. “Dustless” victories were celebrated just as triumphantly as more regular victories, or even more so. Clearly, what mattered to Greek athletes was victory, not participation per se. This point is demonstrated by brief discussions of the careers of eight athletes known to have achieved victories without dust.

U2 - 10.1163/9789004539914_015

DO - 10.1163/9789004539914_015

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 9789004537194

T3 - Mnemosyne, Supplements, History and Archaeology of Classical Antiquity

SP - 240

EP - 252

BT - Politeia and Koinonia. Studies in Ancient Greek History in Honour of Josine Blok

A2 - Pirenne-Delforge, Vinciane

A2 - Wecowski, Marek

PB - Brill

ER -