Introduction
Social class hierarchy and sports, through time, have always been relatives. The critical linkage is in the significance of prowess in military and combat activities and the martial roots of sports as a signifier of social status (Sugden et al. 309). Ancient Greece and Rome have similarities and differences in terms of the social class of their athletes. Ancient Rome borrowed heavily from the Olympics and competitions and differed in who was allowed to participate and the social status of those who participated (Bell 184). This paper seeks to analyze the similarity between the social status of Ancient Greece and that of Ancient Rome.
The Social Status of an Athlete in Ancient Greece
In Ancient Greece, sports were based on warrior nobility ethos. The social status of the athletes in Ancient Greece varied with the sport that an individual participated in. Generally, they held the prominent and esteemed social group in Ancient Greece. Participation in equestrian events and athletic contests such as chariot racing was strictly awarded to participants according to their social ranks, inherited wealth, and status (Bell 187). The athletes were required to train for ten months, suggesting that this category of people was drawn from dilettantes coming from upper echelons.
Sports acted as a critical status marker, and so did the athletes. For this reason, enslaved people were never allowed to participate in competitions (Zafeiroudi et al., 122). Since sports was a social status marker and there were concerns about how enslaved people handled social issues such as sexual contact and the idea of being free, this was contrary to the concept and notion of a nude free man. A naked free slave could juxtapose the whole picture and threaten Greek ideas of the enslaved person and free body.
Athletes in Ancient Greece were at the bottom of the social ladder, below even the most eccentric criminals, especially the needy. In Ancient Greece, a successful athlete required a substantial financial investment. Aristocrats, dictators, and monarchs pooled their resources to fund the construction of the Olympia and purchase mighty chariots and horses. Similarly, significant sums were spent on writers like Simonides, Pindar, and Bacchylides to erect monuments and songs in their honor. (Golden 7). Athlete victors elevated more in the social hierarchy as they earned honors, such as in the case of Prytaneion, where athletes earned a lifetime of free meals.
Athletes were viewed as heroes and public figures in Ancient Greece. Athletes were given front-row seats on special occasions such as festivals and competitions. For example, at Prytaneion, athletes were most likely to occupy the front seats. In great battles like in Sparta, they fought alongside kings. Notably, the prices and prestige these athletes received differed from place to place. For example, valuables worn at local competitions were of less importance than those worn in regional competitions.
These are also reflected in the social status that came with them. Only politicians and others in positions of power could compare to athletes in Greece (Golden 250). Athletic excellence could render an individual fit to hold political power or position, especially in the military wing. More significant material benefits and social status almost always accompanied success in athletics, and its trappings and pursuits were never beneath public display.
The Social Status of an Athlete in Ancient Rome
The capacity to nurture stables, a school of gladiators, and stage great games in areas such as the Coliseum or the Hippodrome was a sign of high social standards and political authority (Golden 256). On the other hand, athletes hold lower status as most came from low class and enslaved people. Only men participated as athletes, and in some cases, such as the gladiator women, were allowed to participate. Athletes who were initially enslaved only accrued a certain level of respect when in the arena, and their star-like status did not directly translate into social status outside the stadium. Athletes in Ancient Rome were described as gladiators and often were composed of groups of people who were offenders and from the lower class.
However, the social status of these athletes differed at the low-class level as they were viewed differently. Nevertheless, they were considered heroes in the arena and won prizes whenever they emerged victors. Gladiators who could associate with trainers signaled a slightly higher social status than the others (Golden 250). The trainers were expensive even though they were excluded from holding prestigious positions in Ancient Roman society. Gladiators, however, were viewed as properties and could receive world-class athlete treatments for those who emerged victorious in most competitions (Kokkinopoulou et al., 121). These athletes also received proper medical care and superior meal plans as they required much energy through training and sports activities.
Comparison of the Two Eras
Ancient Roman athletes’ competition borrows essentially from Ancient Greece. The Romans borrowed the sport and turned it massive festively by adding staged naval battles, gladiatorial battles, staged animal hunts, and drama (Golden 201). Ancient Rome was focused on the warfare part of the sport rather than the intellectual and philosophical aspects, which also impacted how the athletes’ social status was viewed.
The circus gained its roots in occupying the central feature of the Ancient Roman social order. The Romans held brutal and bloody sports, affecting their athletes’ views. Participants were primarily low-class enslaved people and gladiators, comprising enslaved people and society offenders. This generally degraded the social status of anyone who participated in such sports. The Olympics existed but were viewed as pagan sports.
Even though there are similarities in what was won by athletes in competitions between Ancient Rome and Greece, the social status at which these athletes were viewed differed in so many areas. At a higher level, athletes at the top of the game enjoyed almost the same social status in Ancient Greece and Rome. These top performers could get a chance to engage with the community’s famous and elite and be seen as heroes and role models (Vamplew et al., 287). For example, slave gladiators could earn their freedom back and be viewed as heroes, equivalent to the other free athletes in Greece.
Ancient Greek athletes can be described as open to free men, and social status depended on an athlete’s victory in the competitions and festivals they participated in. Enslaved people were not allowed to participate. In Ancient Rome, most of the athletes were slaves and were of low social status. The difference is attributed to the different cultures in the two eras.
Romans were more inclined to warfare and conquering, while the Hellenic were more spiritual and philosophical (Vamplew et al., 280). For the Greeks, it was a way of fostering communication and engagement between people and forming connections. For this reason, it allowed individuals to train for combat, earn respect, represent their regions, and elevate their social class as free people. The Greeks, therefore, held more interest in Olympics-style sports.
Approximation of One of the Eras to the Status of Modern Athletes
The social status of Ancient Greek athletes closely approximates that of modern athletes in so many ways. Though Ancient Greece might have exaggerated the power and social status given to their athletes, modern athletes with special social classes are also seen as social figures. Current social athletes have higher social levels as they are considered icons, role models, and idols.
Modern athletes may have opportunities to interact with politicians. Still, this relationship differs from that of Ancient Greece, where athletes were celebrated heroes who dined and competed alongside kings and other political powers. (Vamplew et al., 290). Current athletes receive such privileges since they are among the few capable of influencing a larger mass and decisions of the assembly they gather.
The social status of athletes in both modern times and Ancient Greece is linked to their success in sports. Still, the factors contributing to this success and the nature of their social status differ significantly due to differences in cultural and economic contexts. For example, modern athletes influence the consumption of specific products or endorse certain people to be accepted by certain masses or groups. Through the fame gained in competition and success, politicians and influential people in Ancient Greece would use athletes for self-gratification and leverage their influence to climb up the hierarchy of political power (Cuomo 237). Greece received considerable recognition among its members, raising the participants’ social status, which is also common in the modern world.
Conclusion
To conclude, this paper has analyzed the similarities and differences between the social status of the Ancient Greek athlete and that of Rome. The resemblance arose because Romans relied on Greek sports as their foundation. However, the study also found that the athlete’s social status differs. In the case of Greece, participants were free men, unlike in Ancient Rome, where the participants were enslaved and low in society. While in Greece, athletes rose through social ranks and status, for Romans, this was hard and could be achieved by the one percent of gladiators.
Works Cited
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