Ancient Greek Civilization | Delphi and Olympia (Lecture 7)

Lecture 7: The two most important institutions to emerge in Greece before the Classical period were the oracle of Apollo at Delphi and the Olympic Games. Both were Panhellenic institutions, open to any person or community identified as Greek. Such institutions were crucial in fostering a Greek identity in the face of political fragmentation. At the same time, both institutions reinforced the strong tendency towards separatism among the Greeks by favoring a highly competitive, "agonistic" environment. The agon, or contest, became a dominant feature of the Greek experience. It influenced the Greek conception of both personal relations and political life. Together these institutions fundamentally shaped what it meant to be a Greek.

Suggested Reading
Morgan, C. (1990) Athletes and Oracles. The Transformation of Olympia and Delphi in the Eighth Century BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rolley, C., Jacquemin, A. and Laroche, D., eds (1990) Delphes. Oracles, Cultes et Jeux. Les Dossiers d'Archaeologie 151 Dijon.

Lecture 8: https://www.bitchute.com/video/KArgNBEq9uRG/

Lecture 6: https://www.bitchute.com/video/Bc7UjI3a19Pz/