Magna Graecia:
Athletics and the Olympic spirit in the periphery of the Greek world. Southern Italy and Sicily

The exhibition explored the development of athletics in the western regions of the Greek world – namely the cities of southern Italy and Sicily – and the political and cultural significance of the participation of athletes from these cities in the panhellenic games of the “motherland”, mainly Olympia but also Pythia, Isthmia, and Nemeia.

By participating in those athletic events – which were restricted only to athletes of Greek origin – Greeks living in colonies throughout the Mediterranean region reinforced their ideas of common identity and common origin, while at the same time forging strong political affiliations and insoluble bonds of kinship with the citizens of city-states from all over the Hellenic world.

The exhibition consisted of more than 270 selected objects from cemeteries and sanctuaries in Italy. The exhibits -early 6th century BC through the 2nd century AD- were classified by athletic event and according to the order they were held at Olympia.