Aristocracy and Athletics in Archaic and Classical Greece

The book explores the evolving dynamics between Greek aristocrats and lower-class athletes during the late archaic and early classical periods. It highlights how victories in athletics, once a means for aristocrats to assert their political status, began to lose significance as the relationship with charioteers, jockeys, and trainers shifted. Nigel Nicholson analyzes the role of victory memorials as symbols of social struggle, illustrating how aristocrats adapted to these changes and the implications for the institution of athletics in ancient Greece.