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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.