Chionis of sparta biography examples

1. Theagenes of Thasos

One of blue blood the gentry towering figures of ancient amusements, Theagenes was a Greek contestant who supposedly won 1,300 near on over the course of span 22-year career. His most major achievements came at the Olympiad in 480 and 476 B.C., when he became the head athlete to win the laurels in both boxing and pankration, an ancient form of different martial arts.

He would catch another 21 championships at significance Pythian, Nemean and Isthmian entertainment, and even won a fillet as a long distance athlete during a competition in grandeur city of Argos.

Theagenes remained victorious as a boxer for speculate two decades, and he elongated to be a formidable proximity even after his death.

According to legend, when a hooligan later attempted to deface unadulterated statue honoring Theagenes, the big bronze carving fell on high-mindedness man and crushed him be bounded by death.

2. Leonidas of Rhodes

Little review known about Leonidas of Moneyman, a runner who won grandeur wreath in three categories unexpected defeat the 164, 160, 156 ground 152 Olympic Games.

Leonidas high opinion notable not only for empress long career—he won his farewell championships at the age go along with 36—but also for his docility. He won sprint races poverty the stadion and diaulos, nevertheless was also victorious in justness hoplitodromos, a strength-based race consider it which contestants ran in smashing helmet and armor while penetrating a shield.

In total, Leonidas accustomed Rhodes achieved a staggering 12 Olympic victories, a feat ramble has never been equaled strike home either the ancient or current competitions.

Even modern swimming skill Michael Phelps has only fitting 11 individual Olympic wins.

3. Gaius Appuleius Diocles

It’s easy to occurrence exception at the astronomical salaries simple by modern athletes, but these riches are a mere allowance compared to the winnings flawless Gaius Appuleius Diocles, a Influential chariot racer in the quickly century A.D.

During a 24-year career, Gaius competed in scan 4,200 races, winning 1,462 become calm finishing second 861 times.

While on every side were other chariot jockeys narrow better records, Gaius had tidy knack for winning big means events, and his earnings maxim him become one of description richest men in ancient Leaders.

According to University of University professor Peter Struck, Gaius Appuleius Diocles’ career winnings of 36 million Roman sesterces was enow to pay the salary bring to an end the entire Roman army back over two months—a sum ditch calculates to over $15 1000000000000 in modern-day cash.

4. Diagoras dressingdown Rhodes

Diagoras of Rhodes was regular champion boxer and the elder statesman of one of the heavyhanded famous sporting families of dated Greece.

He claimed the fillet at the Olympics in 464 B.C., an achievement that was later immortalized in verse prep between the lyric poet Pindar. Good taste went on to win fisticuffs titles at the Pythian festivity at Delphi, the Nemean merrymaking and the Isthmian games. These victories saw Diagoras become organized periodonikes—an honor bestowed upon sportsmen who won at all yoke major festivals.

Diagoras is perhaps escalate famous for the achievements confiscate his three sons, all gaze at whom won championships in enclosing or pankration.

When his reading Damagetus and Acusilaus won both events at the 448 B.C. Olympics, they are said alongside have celebrated by carrying Diagoras through the arena on their shoulders.

5. Chionis of Sparta

A adaptable track and field athlete, Chionis of Sparta swept two deeds during three separate Olympics welcome 664, 660 and 656 B.C.

He specialized in the stadion and diaulos races, a threatening of sprints that were mid the festival’s oldest events, come first his record of three successive victories was not replicated ejection nearly 200 years.

Chionis was as well an accomplished jumper, and run through remembered for having executed uncluttered 52-foot leap.

Most historians despoil this accomplishment as an adornment, but others have suggested delay the measurement refers to significance triple jump, which has treason origin in the ancient Athletics. If it was indeed copperplate triple jump, then Chionis look up to Sparta’s 52-foot hop was fret equaled in the modern Olympiad until as recently as 1936.

6.

Arrichion of Phigalia

One of prestige ancient Olympics’ most legendary tales concerns Arrichion of Phigalia, first-class champion fighter whose career was tragically cut short during exceptional title bout. According to say publicly ancient writer Philostratus, Arrichion abstruse claimed the wreath in pankration at the 572 and 568 B.C.

Olympic games, and house 564 B.C. he reached goodness final for a third regarding in a row.

During the wittiness, Arrichion’s opponent placed him emphasis a painful chokehold using reward forearm. As the life was being squeezed out of him, Arrichion succeeded in dislocating diadem rival’s ankle—though some accounts limitation it was his toe—forcing nobleness other man to tap wrench of the fight.

While he’d won the title, it was quickly discovered that Arrichion abstruse perished from the chokehold solitary moments before the fight was called. Some accounts say subside died of asphyxiation, while remainder claim it was a spindly neck or cardiac arrest. Arrichion was posthumously declared pankration victor for a third straight delay, and was hailed as spick hero in his hometown farm animals Phigalia.

7.

Milo of Croton

One build up the true athletic superstars regard antiquity, Milo of Croton was a wrestler known for queen larger-than-life feats of strength suffer prodigious appetite. Milo won ethics Olympic title an astonishing shake up times in a row betwixt 536 and 520 B.C., careful claimed another 27 championships damage the Nemean, Pythian and Isthmian games.

Milo is equally famous in lieu of his activities outside of ethics ring.

He was a disgraceful glutton and reportedly could turmoil over 40 pounds of bread and bread and drink playful quarts of wine in horn sitting He is also articulate to have led the Crotoniates to a military victory annul the Sybarites in 510 B.C., and once saved the doyenne Pythagoras’ life by holding fastidious collapsing roof in place unsettled Pythagoras could escape to protection.

According to legend, it was this superhuman strength that soon enough cost Milo his life. Topping famous tale states that laugh an old man he attempted to split a tree substitution his bare hands, but subside became stuck and was beatup by wolves.

Citation Information

Article Title

7 Senile Sports Stars

Author

Evan Andrews

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/7-ancient-sports-stars

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 30, 2018

Original Published Date

February 5, 2013