Chariot Race In Greek Sport

Chariot racing was a big demonstration of arête for the Greeks. IT showed their social status because only people with a lot of free time and wealth were able to participate in the chariot race. Where as in combat sports arête was gained by being the best athlete and winning regardless of class. Greeks perceived chariot racing as a demonstration of arête because those who won got much glory. The chariot race was more expensive than the other competitions and so it was only open to the wealthy, it retained a flavor of aristocracy (Miller p.28). People didn’t get as much recognition by participating in other events because men from any social or economic background could compete in those events. The prizes received in the chariot races were also significant because they revealed the social status of the competitions (Miller p.27). The prizes received at the chariot race competitions had much value in that society than other sports at the time. The prizes such as “a woman in her work and a tripod with ears holding twenty-two measure”; were most …show more content…
A man form any social class could be in the combat sports and gain arête if they won. Also the combat sports had much stricter rules so that the winner was the true winner and you couldn’t buy your victory like Alcibiades did in the chariot race. For example, Arrhachion was in a match when his opponent got a hold of his neck and was squeezing it. The the same time he expired he dislocated a toe and his opponent gave up because of the pain (Miller p.37). Even though he died, due to his own arête he won and was honored with a statue of him. Milo of Croton was a wrestler who won many events in the most important festivals. He was big and strong and the very best of the athletes. For him and other combat sports participant’s arête was achieved by winning all the events and being the strongest and proving that no one is stronger than