Prytanis of Cyzicus
Prytanis of Cyzicus was an ancient Greek boxing athlete, originating from Cyzicus. Prytanis participated in the 98th ancient Olympic Games, where he was bribed by his opponents. Both Prytanis and those who corrupted him with money were fined. With this amount, bronze statues of Zeus, known as the "Zanes," were erected at Olympia, and this became a custom thereafter. In those games, Prytanis' opponent was Eupolus of Thessaly, who corrupted not only Prytanis but also Agesias of Arcadia and Phormio of Halicarnassus with money.[1][2]
According to ancient tradition, this incident was the first irregular act ever committed at the Olympic Games.
References[edit]
- ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece § 5.21.3 The first, six in number, were set up in the ninety-eighth Olympiad (388 BCE). For Eupolus of Thessaly bribed the boxers who entered the competition, Agetor the Arcadian and Prytanis of Cyzicus, and with them also Phormio of Halicarnassus, who had won at the preceding Olympiad. This is said to have been the first time that an athlete violated the rules of the games, and the first to be fined by the Eleans were Eupolus and those who accepted bribes from Eupolus. Two of these images are the work of Cleon of Sicyon; who made the next four I do not know.
- ^ Patsi-Garin, 1969. p. 114
Bibliography[edit]
- Emmy Patsi-Garin: «Επίτομο λεξικό Ελληνικής Μυθολογίας (Concise Dictionary of Greek Mythology)», Haris Patsis Publishing House, Athens 1969.
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