Artistic Competitions at Greek Olympia Games in the 19th Century

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine ideas concerning artistic competitions and the competition content at Greek national Olympia Games in the nineteenth century. The following conclusions were reached: The first Greek national Olympia Games in 1859 had athletic competitions and an industrial exposition. Some artistic products were found among the industrial products and prizes were awarded for some artistic works. In 1870, vice president of Olympia Committee suggested that artistic and intellectual competitions should be included in the Olympia program to unite body, intelligence and industry for the development of culture and society with worship of the Muses. Artistic competitions were staged as an element of industrial products competitions in the second and the third Greek national Olympia Games. These artistic competitions were in the architecture, painting, sculpture, literature and music categories. Artistic and intellectual competitions were staged at the fourth Olympia Games in 1888. It can be said that the artistic competitions were derived from the industrial products competitions and they developed widely. Greek people who lived in foreign countries supported these artistic competitions and they also supported the first international Olympic Games. During the first international Olympic Games in 1896, a music competition was announced and many kinds of artistic events were held by the Greek Organizing Committee. They became part of the Olympic legacy of the national Olympia Games. The revival of the Olympia Games by the Greek people was not limited to athletic competition but also included artistic competition. The principles of these artistic competitions sought a merger of the body and the mind.