Diagoras of Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Diagoras of Rhodes was an ancient Greek
boxer from the 5th century BC, who was celebrated for his own victories, as well as the victories of his sons and grandsons. He was a member of the Eratidae family at Ialysus in Rhodes
. He descended from Damagetus, king of Ialysus, and, on the mother's side, from the Messenian hero, Aristomenes
. Diagoras was victor in boxing
twice in the Olympic games, four times in the Isthmian
, twice in the Nemean
, and once at least in the Pythian Games
. The fame of Diagoras and his descendants was celebrated by Pindar
(Olympian Odes VII). A local soccer club, Diagoras F.C.
and the Rhodes International Airport, "Diagoras", are named after him.
His three sons were Olympic champions. The oldest son, Damágētos, won the pankration
in 452 and 448 BC. Akousílaos, the second son, won the boxing in 448 BC. The two celebrated their victory by carrying their father around the stadion
on their shoulders, cheered loudly by the spectators. This was considered the peak of happiness that a human being could experience, achieving great glory and yet having this glory matched or even surpassed by one's own children. Legend has it that during Diagoras' triumphant ovation on the shoulders of his sons, a spectator shouted:
the meaning being that although he attained godlike bliss, he could not possibly become a god. Indeed Diagoras died on the spot, and was since considered the very happiest mortal that ever lived. His youngest son, Dorieús, was even more successful than his brothers.
According to another legend revived by Pausanias, Diagoras' daughter, Kallipáteira ("she of the beautiful father") was the only lay woman to enter the Olympic Games. Excepting the priestess of Demeter
, all women were banned from watching because athletes performed in the nude. Kallipateira's son, Peisírrhodos, as well as her nephew, Euklēs, had won the Olympic Games too, when she decided to sneak into the crowd, disguised as a man. She was discovered and brought before the Hellanodíkai (Judges of the Hellenes) to be tried for sacrilege on pain of death; there she proclaimed that if any woman could ever be allowed to defy the ban, it was she, having had a father, three brothers, a son and a nephew achieve victory eight times there. The judges were awed, and she was acquitted. However, according to Pausanias, a law was passed that future trainers should strip before entering the arena. Legend has it that Chilon of Sparta
also died of joy the day when his son gained the prize for boxing at the Olympic games,
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
boxer from the 5th century BC, who was celebrated for his own victories, as well as the victories of his sons and grandsons. He was a member of the Eratidae family at Ialysus in Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
. He descended from Damagetus, king of Ialysus, and, on the mother's side, from the Messenian hero, Aristomenes
Aristomenes
Aristomenes was a king of Messenia, celebrated for his struggle with the Spartans in the Messenian Wars , and his resistance to them on Mount Ida for 11 years...
. Diagoras was victor in boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
twice in the Olympic games, four times in the Isthmian
Isthmian Games
The Isthmian Games or Isthmia were one of the Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, and were named after the isthmus of Corinth, where they were held...
, twice in the Nemean
Nemean Games
The Nemean Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, and were held at Nemea every two years ....
, and once at least in the Pythian Games
Pythian Games
The Pythian Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, a forerunner of the modern Olympic Games, held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi....
. The fame of Diagoras and his descendants was celebrated by Pindar
Pindar
Pindar , was an Ancient Greek lyric poet. Of the canonical nine lyric poets of ancient Greece, his work is the best preserved. Quintilian described him as "by far the greatest of the nine lyric poets, in virtue of his inspired magnificence, the beauty of his thoughts and figures, the rich...
(Olympian Odes VII). A local soccer club, Diagoras F.C.
Diagoras F.C.
Diagoras FC is a football club based in Rhodes, Greece. It was founded in 1905. Diagoras is named after the island's famous hero Diagoras. The team first played under Ottoman Rule until the short lived independence of the Dodecanese in 1912...
and the Rhodes International Airport, "Diagoras", are named after him.
His three sons were Olympic champions. The oldest son, Damágētos, won the pankration
Pankration
Pankration was a martial art introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but without any rules. The term comes from the Greek , literally meaning "all powers" from "all" + "strength, power". Spartans were taught to use this ancient...
in 452 and 448 BC. Akousílaos, the second son, won the boxing in 448 BC. The two celebrated their victory by carrying their father around the stadion
Stadion
Stadion or stade , was an ancient running event, part of the Olympic Games and the other Panhellenic Games. It was one of the five major Pentathlon events. It was the premier event of the gymnikos agon...
on their shoulders, cheered loudly by the spectators. This was considered the peak of happiness that a human being could experience, achieving great glory and yet having this glory matched or even surpassed by one's own children. Legend has it that during Diagoras' triumphant ovation on the shoulders of his sons, a spectator shouted:
Κάτθανε, Διαγόρα, οὐ καὶ ἐς Ὅλυμπον ἀναβήσῃ
Kátthane, Diagóra, ou kaí es Ólympon anabēsēi
Die, Diagoras, for OlympusMount OlympusMount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
you will not ascend
the meaning being that although he attained godlike bliss, he could not possibly become a god. Indeed Diagoras died on the spot, and was since considered the very happiest mortal that ever lived. His youngest son, Dorieús, was even more successful than his brothers.
According to another legend revived by Pausanias, Diagoras' daughter, Kallipáteira ("she of the beautiful father") was the only lay woman to enter the Olympic Games. Excepting the priestess of Demeter
Demeter
In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
, all women were banned from watching because athletes performed in the nude. Kallipateira's son, Peisírrhodos, as well as her nephew, Euklēs, had won the Olympic Games too, when she decided to sneak into the crowd, disguised as a man. She was discovered and brought before the Hellanodíkai (Judges of the Hellenes) to be tried for sacrilege on pain of death; there she proclaimed that if any woman could ever be allowed to defy the ban, it was she, having had a father, three brothers, a son and a nephew achieve victory eight times there. The judges were awed, and she was acquitted. However, according to Pausanias, a law was passed that future trainers should strip before entering the arena. Legend has it that Chilon of Sparta
Chilon of Sparta
Chilon of Sparta was a Lacedaemonian and one of the Seven Sages of Greece.-Early life:Chilon was the son of Damagetus, and lived towards the beginning of the 6th century BC.-Standing and influence:...
also died of joy the day when his son gained the prize for boxing at the Olympic games,
External links
- Diagoras of Rhodes Athletes' Stories by Perseus ProjectPerseus ProjectThe Perseus Project is a digital library project of Tufts University that assembles digital collections of humanities resources. It is hosted by the Department of Classics. It has suffered at times from computer hardware problems, and its resources are occasionally unavailable...
- The Extant Odes of Pindar By Pindar Page 48 ISBN 1426443552; Pindar's epinikion to Diagoras