The Stadion and other footraces

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The Stadion and other footraces class 05
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The Stadion Race
The only event until 724
Began in 776? No, winner began to be recorded
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Balbis, the stone sill for starts
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The balbis and the dromos (running track)
Sockets for posts for the hysplex space for one
runner each
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The best preserved stadium is at Nemea
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View of the Nemea stadium from the S balbis
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Essential Features of the typical stadium
- balbis and hysplex (starting gates) - kampter
(turning post) - 100 foot marking posts -
channel - judges box - tunnel
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The Hysplex in its final form
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Plan of the Nemea stadium with features
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Water channel with basins 100 ft stones terracing
for spectators also visible
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Distribution chamber for water brought downhill
in a terracotta pipe
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Water channel on the W side
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Lanes and Turns in the Longer Races Diaulos
(two length footrace)
the problem of turns in longer races a kampter
(turning post), set 5m in front of the balbis,
provides a wider turning radius
but it forces runners into single file (or out to
outside) and increases contact and injuries.
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• Dolichos, 20-24 lengths
• Hippios, 4 lengths (not Olympic)

Turns in longer races
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Runners in the Dolichos
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Turns in the Diaulos?
A Kampter would cause chaos as runners fought for
position in the single turn around the post
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Millers idea is that every other lane was kept
open and each runner pivots at the balbis,
running back in the open lane
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Evidence for the two-lane scheme for turns in the
Diaulos
DIAULOS means two-barreled flute At Delphi a
rich citizen paid for 10 shields to be used in
the Hoplitodromos (Race in Armor)
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More on the Hoplitodromos(really a running race?)

• Pausanias (V 8, 10) says added in 520 BC for
  the sake of military training
• Philostratus (Gymnastics 7) event recalls Elean
  soldier running into stadium to announce victory
  Olympic truce?

(was it really a running race?)
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But the shields (at first) were huge relics of
Dark Age combat but obsolete
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Grieves original gear, then discarded
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The Marathon not

• Not an Olympic event until 1896
• Th

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Famous Runs
famously confused

• Philippides runs 132 miles in 2 days from Athens
  to ask Spartans for help when Persians invade at
  Marathon (Herodotus Arete 28)
• Thersippos or Eukles carries news of Marathon
  victory to Athens still in armor and dies
  (Plutarch Arete 29)
• Philippides runs to Sparta to announce victory
  (Pliny the Elder Arete 31)