The Oxford Handbook Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World

Alison Futrell is Associate Professor and Head of the History Department at the University of Arizona. Her research interests focus on the discourse, performance, and imagery of power in imperial Rome, with special interest in spectacle and gender.Thomas F. Scanlon is Professor Emeritus of Classics at University of California, Riverside. His research interests focus mainly on Ancient Greek Sport and Greek and Roman historical writing, especially Thucydides and Sallust. His approach to Greek sport is primarily one of investigating social and cultural contexts, including issues of gender, sexuality, religion, and literary sources.

• PART I. Introduction 1: Thomas F. Scanlon: Overview and Approaches 2: Paul Christesen: Theories of Greek and Roman Sport PART II. Development in Historical Perspective Section 1- Pre-Greek Mediterranean 3: Wolfgang Decker: Sport in Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East 4: John G. Younger: Sport and Spectacle in the Greek Bronze Age Section 2- Early Competitions and Events 5: Ulrich Sinn: Origins of the Olympics to the Sixth Century BCE 6: Jean-Paul Thuillier: Etruscan Events Section 3- Panhellenic Games and the Spread of the Tradition 7: Manuela Mari and Paola Stirpe: The Greek Crown Games 8: Julia L. Shear: The Panathenaia and Local Festivals 9: Panos Valavanis: Patterns of Politics in Ancient Greek Athletics 10: Zahra Newby: Greek Festivals in the Hellenistic Era Section 4- Roman Games and Spectacles 11: Alison Futrell: Games in the Republic 12: Richard Beacham: Theatre of Cruelty: Games of the Flavian Emperors 13: Zahra Newby: Greek Festivals in the Roman Era 14: David Potter: Roman Games and Spectacle: Christian Identity and the Arena 15: Paul Milliman: The Decline and Fall of Spectacle PART III. Forms of Contests and Display 16: David Gilman Romano: Greek Footraces and Field Events 17: Michael B. Poliakoff: Greek Combat Sport and the Borders of Athletics, Violence, and Civilization 18: Michael Carter: Gladiators 19: Nigel Nicholson: Greek Hippic Contests 20: Donald G. Kyle: Animal Events 21: Rabun Taylor: Naval Events and Aquacades PART IV. Texts, Contexts, Contests 22: Gregory Nagy: Athletic Contests in Contexts of Epic and Other Related Archaic Texts 23: Leslie Kurke: Epinikion, Kudos, and Criticism 24: Kathryn Chew: Thematic Texts: Ovid, Martial, Tertullian 25: Anne Hrychuk Kontokosta: Contests in Context: Gladiatorial Inscriptions and Graffiti 26: Alexander Hollmann: Curse Tablets 27: Nathan T. Elkins: Coins PART V. Civic Contexts Section 1- Some Local Contests and Festivals 28: Paul Cartledge: Sparta's Contributions to Greek Sport 29: Guy Chamberland: Imperial Spectacle in the Roman Provinces Section 2- Architecture of Games and Competitions 30: David Gilman Romano: Greek Sanctuaries and Stadia 31: Garrett G. Fagan: Gymnasium and Bath 32: Hazel Dodge: The Colosseum 33: P. J. Holliday: Circuses and Hippodromes Section 3- Representations and Material Culture 34: Shelby Brown: Combat Sports and Gladiatorial Combat in Greek and Roman Private Art 35: Wendy J. Raschke: Athletic Images and the Monumentalization of Victory Section 4- Urban Contexts of Local Festivals 36: Onno van Nijf: Local Festivals 37: Luciana Jacobelli: Pompeii and Games 38: Nigel Kennell: Gymnasium and Polis Section 5- Games and Community 39: Lucia D'Amore: Economic Aspects of Athletic Competition in the Archaic and Classical Age 40: Ingomar Weiler: 'Professional' Organizations in the Hellenistic World 41: Steven L. Tuck: Ludi and Factiones as Organizations of Performers 42: Michael MacKinnon: Animal Supply 43: Valerie M. Hope: Gladiators as a Class 44: Matthew J. P. Dillon: Cult and Competition 45: Zinon Papakonstantinou: Law, Litigation, and Sport in Ancient Greece 46: Geoffrey Sumi: Spectatorship, Control, and Collective Groups PART VI. Body and Individual Section 1- Health and Training 47: Lesley Dean-Jones: Too Much of a Good Thing: The Health of Olympic Athletes in Ancient Greece 48: David M. Pritchard: Athletic Participation, Training, and Adolescent Education Section 2- Gender and Sexuality 49: Thomas F. Scanlon: Gender and Sexuality in Greek Sport 50: Alison Futrell: Sex in the Arena

The handbook offers a useful and wide-ranging instrument for all students of ancient sport and spectacle.