Athlete (5th century BC)
Diagoras was a famous Greek Golden Olympian boxer from Rhodes known for his super-human athletic achievements and his virtuous character. He had won first place in four Panhellenic competitions: twice at Nemea, four times at Isthmia, including the Olympic Games as well as in multiple regional ones such as in Athens, Megara, Aegina and Rhodes.
At an old age he had the honour of seeing all of his 3 sons become Olympians. Damagetos won twice at the Olympic Games for the pankrateion while Akousileos won for boxing. Dorieus, his third son won three successive times the pankrateion at the Olympic Games, eight times the Isthmian Games and seven times at Nemea. After their victory they removed their olive wreaths and placed them on their fathers’ head. Then, they lifted him up their shoulders and carried him around the stadium. Diagoras and his sons were apotheosized by the overwhelmed crowd. It has been reported that during Diagoras’ standing ovation, one of the spectators in the crowd shouted:”Die, Diagoras, you cannot ascend to Olympus besides”.
Diagoras became a legend during his own lifetime not only for his accomplishments in boxing but for fathering a generation of Olympian athletes. Shortly after his death, Pindar wrote an ode commemorating Diagoras and his sons. It was written on the wall of the temple of Athena in Rhodes in gold letters. Moreover, the stands of where the sculptures of Diagoras and his sons once stood in Olympia have been found. Diagoras’ daughter was the brave Callipateira, the first woman to have been allowed to watch the Olympic Games because of her generation.
Bibliography
- “Diagoras of Rhodes”. Helios New Encyclopaedic Dictionary. Passas, I. Athens, 1946. Print.
- The Ancient Olympics a Special Exhibit of the Perseus Digital Library Project. “Athletes’ Stories Diagoras of Rhodes”. Web. July 9, 2016.
- ”Αρχαίοι Έλληνες πυγμάχοι”. mixanitouxronou.gr. 30 May 2014. Web. 10 Jul. 2016.
