OLYMPISM - OLYMPIC HYMN - ANCIENT ATHLETIC SPIRIT

KOSTIS PALAMAS

ORPHIC EPICS CRETO - MYCENEAN CIVILIZATION

In admiration, we dare a historic trek into the composition, formation and promotion of this Ancient Athletic Spirit, which derives from the depths of Ancient Greek civilization.

HOMER'S ERA

Until the time of Homer ( 1200-776 BC ), where it acquires a heroic character “Always strive for excellence and prevail over others" and patriotic idealism with ancient phrases, such as “One omen is best, to defend your country".

This Homeric ideal demonstrates the size and value of the virtues of bravery, and excellence through sportsmanship, namely the development and cultivation of psychosomatic virtues.

CLASSICAL PERIOD

In the 6th century, the ancient athletic spirit expresses strength, harmony and beauty.

Ever since, the Panhellenic games were connected to a mythical hero, expose d a clearly competitive character and established the athletic spirit of endeavor. It is this spirit that Palamas invoked as “Ancient Immortal Spirit ….of beauty of greatness and of truth”The same spirit was brought to completion and was idealized in the Archaic era.

The 5th and 4th century becomes the ideal era, which aimed to "human perfection" through the harmonious cultivation of body and soul, with the classical Greek phrases of truth such as Plato’s "the Beautiful and virtuous citizen" the “neither the soul moves without the body nor the body without the soul" and the "healthy mind in a healthy body ".and Aristotle’s   "where there is noble competition, exists victory".

GYMNASIUM

ELLENISM PERIOD

The Hellenism athletic spirit in the Alexander the great period expanded to farthest ends of Asia and contributed to the achievements of an idea of great value, the idea of ecumenism.

Thus the Greek civilization was developed and managed through its intellectual achievements, ideas and works to stamp in a timeless and universal manner the history of humankind.

OLYMPISM IN THE MODERN TIME

Today, the  Spiritual man Palamas gives a call with the Olympic Hymn to those citizens of the modern era,  to form "an iron and worthy body" namely, healthy, vigorous and virtuous, to become worthy citizens, in a perfect state ..

Through the Pindarian  verses of Palama’s Olympic Hymn an invocation to the spirit of Olympism takes place  ,“the beautiful   the great and  the true” to “shine in this noble competition the momentum" and the ideal of "fair play" to become a life experience in modern Olympic Games