Cynisca of sparta history book

At least one other woman who lived in the same period as cynisca and had achievements during the olympics that are worth mentioning is euryleonis. The decisive greek victory at plataea put an end to the grecopersian war along with persian ambition of expanding into europe. Cynisca spartan princess and olympic victor interview. Born around 440 bc, she would later become famous as the first woman to win in an event in the ancient olympics. I dont agree with everything he has to say but the dude is a million years old and has spent his whole life studying and talking about ancient greece. Feb 22, 2020 what are some good books to read to learn about the spartan society and history. She was a daughter of a woman named eupoleia and the king of sparta archidamus ii. Ancient origins articles related to sparta in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends.

Cynisca was wealthy in her own right and she would breed and train horses. Kyniska of sparta was the daughter of king archidamus ii of sparta 476427 b. King agesilaus encouraged his sister to enter a chariot team in the olympic games. Aug, 2016 the very first time i read about kyniska also spelled cynisca, i knew i had to write this book.

She was also the sister of the later king of sparta, agesilaus ii. Cynisca of sparta was the daughter of king of sparta king archidamus and his wife eupoleia. This book is highly recommended for those who wish to read of the rise and decline of group of brutal warriors who fielded the most fierce armies of the classical age. Kyniska of sparta was the daughter of king archidamus ii 476427 b.

Owner of the victorious fourcolt chariot in the 96th and. She won the race of quadriga, which consisted of a vehicle, which was pulled by four horses. Spartas troubles are compounded by a devastating earthquake in 464. At least one other woman who lived in the same period as cynisca and had. The first woman to win in ancient olympics cynisca of sparta. Back then it was the owner of the horses not the riders that were awarded with victory in the olympics. I say i am the only woman in all greece to have won this wreath. Victorious cynisca with her chariot drawn by swiftfooted horses erected this statue. The sparsity of ruins from antiquity around the modern city reflects the austerity of the military oligarchy that ruled the spartan citystate from the 6th to the 2nd century bce. Sparta was located in a valley on the banks of the eurotas river in.

Cynisca took her fist breath around 440 bc in the legendary city of sparta known for its unusual way of thinking about life and war. Mar 22, 2016 women were not allowed to participate in the olympic games or to watch them. I was inspired by her story, though very little detail has come down to us about this fascinating woman who rocked the world of men. Her story reflects spartan womens increased wealth and interest in sporting achievements. The heraean games, held in the olympic stadium, were instituted as the. Sparta, ancient capital of the laconia district of the southeastern peloponnese, southwestern greece. But overall makes for good, even passionate reading. Nov 08, 2002 for casual readers of classical history, i cant recommend the spartans. If you are looking for an introduction to sparta and things grecian, continue on with your search. Cynisca was sister to king agesilaus of sparta, who was a successful military leader.

I won with a team of fastfooted horses and put up this monument. This is the first booklength examination of spartan women, covering over a thousand years in the history of women from both the elite and lower classes. I, cynisca, victorious with a chariot of swiftfooted horses, erected this statue. According to the tradition of the lacedaemonians themselves, lelex, an aboriginal was the first king in this land, after whom his subjects were named leleges. History has more stories of athletic women from sparta.

This book is a fairly good read, a lot of information is given with good references. Nowadays women take part in the olympics as equal to men. History is filled with inspirational stories of women in the arts, sciences, and sports, as well as women who have led countries, civil rights movements, and humanitarian efforts. Cynisca of sparta charlie francis community forums. She is said to have been a tomboy, an expert equestrian and very wealthy, the perfect qualifications for a successful trainer. Women were not allowed to participate in the olympic games or to watch them. The intense, and indepth, research, some of which you have read about in this tenpart blog series, made me excited to get stuck in every day. Such are the paradoxes involved in studying the warrior nation that, for a time, dominated the citystates of ancient greece. Sparta is having difficulty in retaining the loyalty of the members of its own peloponnesian league, several of whom adopt democratic governments hostile in principle to the spartan oligarchy. Archidamus left sons when he died, of whom agis was the elder and inherited the throne instead of agesilaus.

For casual readers of classical history, i cant recommend the spartans. Two good books to read to learn about the spartan society and history include the following. Join facebook to connect with cynisca sparta and others you may know. She entered teams in 396 and 392 bce, winning on both occasions. In 396 bc, she became the first woman in history to win at the ancient olympic games. You will find cool games, videos, worksheets on many historical events that will help you understand those that continue reading home. For these reasons, pomeroys history of spartan women can be considered.

She grew up in the court with her brother, the future king of sparta, agesilaus ii. The highest function of a free woman was the bearing of children plutarch lykurgu. The inscription says, kings of sparta were my forefathers and my brothers. The website is packed with articles, worksheets and even a quiz on each section. History for kids welcome to history for kids the free online history network. In the 5th century bc, sparta is under threat from xerxes and his giant persian empire. Her parents were king archidamus ii of sparta and eupdeia. The last section of classical sparta is very terse and just mentions aristotle. Cynisca of sparta my father and brothers were spartan kings. Spartan females had much more freedom than other women in the ancient. Archidamus ii, cynisca was also the sister of the later. The evolution of sparta could have been somewhat better organised in the sense that the story line sometimes gets ahead of itself, with the author then coming back to the other facts, which can be a little confusing. Read about greek history and politics from the archaic period through the hellenistic period.

Sparta was located in a valley on the banks of the eurotas river in the southeastern portion of greece. The greeks invented democracy, started the olympics, built the foundations of western arts and culture, and loved a good party. The history of sparta describes the destiny of the ancient dorian greek state known as sparta from its beginning in the legendary period to its incorporation into the achaean league under the late roman republic, as allied state, in 146 bc, a period of roughly years. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. What are some good books to read to learn about the spartan society and history. It is famous for its powerful army as well as its battles with the citystate of athens during the peloponnesian war. Worth a read november 10, 2008 a spartan princesss cynisca broke the mould by winning a four horse chariot race in 396 bce. As a spartan warrior, you will hone your abilities as a strategist and a leader, and build an army.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the history of. Indirectly it brings to a head the simmering hostilities between sparta and athens. You dont need to know any ancient greek, but you arent going to get much from this volume unless you already have a basic grasp of greek sources and history in this book, the authors deal with problems of. The very first time i read about kyniska also spelled cynisca, i knew i had to write this book. The story of how kyniska masterminded her way to glory through this loophole in the olympics rules is one of the great gamechanges in sports history and it has a strong lesbian twist to boot. English classicist, paul cartledge, introduces us to cynisca of sparta and offers us an insight to why she can be considered the first greek female olympic winner.

Please help us cover our server costs for this year. Sparta has been the subject of a number of books published in the second half of. Pomeroy comprehensively analyzes ancient texts and archaeological evidence to construct the. Historian nigel kennell writes in his book spartans. She competed in the olympiads in the fourhorse chariot racesas an owner and breeder of horses, not as a driverand won in 396 and 392, becoming the first woman to win in the games. Archidamus had also a daughter, whose name was cynisca.

Cynisca, was the epitome of everything it meant to be a spartan woman. Cynisca and euryleonis could easily be added as well as a longer section describing the changed their actions brought to spartangreater greek society at that point. An exploration of the causes and effects of the oliganthropia in sparta at the time could be useful. A lot of people, after an intensive struggle to write a paper or book, are fed up with their subject afterward, but that is not the case for me. List of books and articles about ancient sparta online. The other incidents in the life of oebotas i will add to my history of achaia. War of empires is a free online war game by top strategy games developer plarium. Born in 440 bc, the daughter of the eurypontid king of sparta. Oct 24, 2019 cynisca of sparta the princess of sparta.

Sparta was a warrior society in ancient greece that reached the height of its power after defeating rival citystate athens in the peloponnesian war 431404 shows this day in history. Although women were barred from the festival and thus she could not take part in the winners ceremony, sculptures commemorating cyniscas achievements were commissioned. Sparta project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. This book is highly recommended for those who wish to read of the rise and decline of group of brutal warriors who fielded the. She was also the halfsister of king agis, and sister to king agesilaus ii 444360 b. We are a nonprofit organization and we would rather spend the money on our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Oct 03, 2003 this book is a fairly good read, a lot of information is given with good references. Spartan women writework essays and papers for students. This is the first book length examination of spartan women, covering over a thousand years in the history of women from both the elite and lower classes. We hope you enjoy and have fun exploring our history. Born in sparta, birth date unknown, but probably close to that of her brother agesilaus in 444 bce. The greek author pausanius, who wrote his travel book description of. Sparta was one of the most powerful citystates in ancient greece. Cynisca was born around 440 bc in the ancient greek city of sparta and was the daughter of the eurypontid king of sparta, archidamus ii, and eupoleia.

Learn more about pioneering women with this online womens history scavenger hunt. Browse the worlds largest ebookstore and start reading today on the web, tablet, phone, or ereader. I assert that i am the only women in all greece who. Sparta would never be the same after 371, and it is with haunting detail and clarity that forrest takes us thru that sad chapter in greek history. Id second the recommendation on anything by kagan on greece. What are some good books to read to learn about the. History early history located in a fertile, mountainwalled valley, the citystate of sparta was created by invading dorian greeks, who later conquered the countryside of laconia and messenia c. Cynisca of sparta, sometimes also known as kyniska, was a princess of the greek city state sparta. Pomeroy comprehensively analyzes ancient texts and archaeological evidence to construct the world of these elusive though much noticed females. I was looking for a solid history book on the spartan civilization, i wanted to understand how they lived, how their society was organized, how their political, social and economical gears moved. This is the story of the woman who started this phenomenon more than 2.