AGR.Greek Athletes The ancient Greeks were competitive; their athletic victors embodied excellence and virtue. Much like today, champions became famous at home and abroad. But they competed for glory rather than riches, at games and festivals dedicated to deities and local heroes. To train their bodies, male athletes went to the gymnasion, a facility found in every Greek city. Athletes are one of the most popular figures in ancient Greek art and are represented in all media, particularly sculpture and vase painting. The MFA has an outstanding collection of artworks depicting Greek athletes. /internal/media/dispatcher/835226/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Covered drinking cup (kylix) depciting athletes and judges about 500 B.C. 95.16 153464 /internal/media/dispatcher/1114810/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Discus about 500 B.C. 1987.621 130164 /internal/media/dispatcher/891823/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Drinking cup (kylix) depicting pentathletes about 500–490 B.C. Onesimos 01.8020 153699 /internal/media/dispatcher/793892/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Drinking cup (skyphos) depicting jumpers about 480 B.C. the Brygos Painter 10.176 153875 /internal/media/dispatcher/836262/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Jar (pelike) with a scene of athletic training about 500–490 B.C. the Eucharides Painter 2004.74 153579 /internal/media/dispatcher/801237/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Jumping weight (halter) 6th to 4th century B.C. 99.501 187343 /internal/media/dispatcher/1086491/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Miniature chariot wheel about 525–500 B.C. 35.61 153322 /internal/media/dispatcher/1114805/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Oil flask (aryballos) in the shape of male genitals with a bull's head in relief about 520–500 B.C. 95.55 153565 /internal/media/dispatcher/836314/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Panathenaic prize vase (amphora) about 530–520 B.C. the Euphiletos Painter 99.520 153399 /internal/media/dispatcher/1114801/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Scraper (strigil) about 350–290 B.C. 01.7478 153253 /internal/media/dispatcher/1105140/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Statuette of a discus thrower (discobolos) about 480 B.C. 01.7480 152685 /internal/media/dispatcher/708771/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Statuette of a stooping athlete about 470–460 B.C. 96.710 45943 /internal/media/dispatcher/1444550/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Support for a mirror showing an athlete about 470 B.C. 96.706 152686 /internal/media/dispatcher/1444552/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Two-handled jar (amphora) depicting a victor in an athletic contest about 490 B.C. the Kleophrades Painter 10.178 153616 /internal/media/dispatcher/1108919/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Two-handled storage jar (pelike) depicting young athletes jumping about 520–515 B.C. Circle of Euthymides 1973.88 153847 /internal/media/dispatcher/1444549/resize%25253Aformat%25253Dthumbnail Wine cooler (psykter) depicting pentathletes about 520–515 B.C. Phintias 01.8019 8025