PENETRATION of OLYMPIC IDEAS into RUSSIA

The first data on ancient Greek Olympic Games became known in the first millenium B.C. to inhabitants of cities northern part of the Black Sea region,

and also ancient Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia, which subsequently were included into structure of Russian empire. In those early

times on the Black Sea coast the Greek colonies were scattered. Among them there were allocated Olvia, Khersonese, Panticapei, Fanagoria etc.

Tribes of Scythians and the Sarmatians wandered in steppes of sea region keeping close relations with the Greek colonies that promoted distribution

the Greek culture among them.

In the Greek colonies on the

example of mother country there were

set up schools, palaestras,

competitions were held and winners were awarded. At

excavation close to the town Anapa the lists of winners in running contest

devoted to mythical Hermes were found.

ArcGoodwill Games heological findings testify

that athletes from the richest families of the Greek colonies

quite often took part in national Greek contest

games in Greece. There are data, depicting that special ambassadors were sent to colonies of the Black Sea region to inform and invite participants to forthcoming

Olympic games in Greece. In some games in Olympia

athletes of the Armenian and Georgian Imperial sorts took

part. It is known that Varazdat from Artaksat the ancient

capital of Armenia became the winner in fisticuffs at one

of the last Olympic Games held in Ancient Greece

Later on as a result of decline of an ancient art under the influence of Christianity, in 394 our

era Olympic Games were prohibited and the data about Olympic Games have disappeared from memory of mankind for

ten centuries.Only during the

Renaissance period the process of revival of the

forgotten antique traditions was started.

People have recollected the Olympic Games.

Russia also was not staying aside the process of Olympic idea revival. In XV century in our country again some information about Games of Ancient

Ellada have appeared. Just at that time in Moscow

there was found the work of Bulgarian writer Isai,

who made translations of compositions of the Greek

philosopher Dionisiy Areopagit.

In that place where ancient Olympia was designated one Russian copyist has

made the additions in old Slavic language, which are not mentioned

neither in original Dionisiy, nor in Isai' translation. In this addition one can read

the following: «Olympiads name five kinds of competitions. The first — fight by fists! The second — wrestling! The third — to run and go by chariots! The fourth — to jump! The fifth — to throw

stones! And it was like a holiday arranged every fifth year when the set of people from all countries gathered and games were held. And those who won,

were awarded with a wreath of a victory. One winner received a wreath from leaves of an olive tree, the second

one — something else, the third one — something appropriate to a victory».

Acknowledgement of this message in Russian State

occurred just at the right time when it aspired to ratify the

national interest and national traditions in all spheres of public life including the field of games,

physical exercises and entertainment. In the course of the

next centuries the knowledge of ancient Olympic Games developed

interest of scientific and social part of society. On boundary of the XVII-XVIII Кiev-Моgilyansk Board and Slavic-Greek-Latin

Academy centuries when there were founded Кiev-Моgilyansk Board and Slavic-Greek-Latin

Academy, where the Greek language was studied, there were

found references to ancient Olympic holidays in philosophical

and literary works.

It is known, that the great Russian

scientist M.V.Lomonosov tried

to put into life the idea to hold holidays like Olympic games

in Russia. He put this idea in one line with such tasks as «… preservation and

duplication of Russian people» and was going to write a

special work devoted to Olympiads.

Lomonosov twice applied to

concept «Olympic games». In his article «About

preservation of health» (1741-1742) he wrote the next lines: «… Chillon, one of the seven Greek wise men,

has died … of pleasure when his

son in Olympic games has got a

bribe».

Later, approximately in 1759-1761,

Lomonosov has included «Olympic

games» in the list of important subjects,

on which he thought it necessary to present his considerations. Unfortunately, his intention was not

realized.

Probably, Lomonosov's ideas

have induced the Russian Empress

Ekaterina II to arrange in 1766

original tournament —

competition in art of riding in magnificent luxurious suits that

referred to as «a court roundabout».

This roundabout was held twice on June, 16 and on July, 11 the same year. In front of the Winter Palace there was

built a special amphitheater in which «rates» were held, in our

understanding — horse races, first ladies' on chariots competed, and then

cavalrymen riding horseback.

Among prizes handed there were

gold and silver medals. The

inscription on some of them

looked like this: «From Alfey to Neva coasts». This inscription tells us

about a direct communication of

the Petersburg roundabouts with ancient Olympic

holidays, so as the last were held, as is known, in Ancient Greece in a valley of the river Alfej.

In works of many Russian scientists, poets and writers

the idea and principles of ancient Olympic Games also find reflection. Concerning

cultural assignment of Olympic holidays in Ancient

Greece the great Russian historian N.M.Karamzin

wrote in «Histories of the Russian

State» following: «During famous Olympic Games the

noise disappeared, and crowds kept silence around Gerodot, reading legend of

centuries».

The poet E.A.Baratynsky

also mentions it in one of his poems. The remarkable

Russian poet V.A.Zhukovsky,

who translated the myth of Ancient Greece «Ivikov cranes», has

insipidly told how people were

gathering from all the parts of Ellada to take part in the

national Greek holidays.

И кто сочтет разноплеменных, Сим торжеством соединенных? Пришли отвсюду:от Афин, От древней Спарты, от Микин, С пределов Азии далекой, С Эгейских вод, с Фракийских гор... И сели в тишине глубокой, И тихо выступает хор.

In magazine of the Ministry of National Education

(1856) Peter Tihanovich has published «Sketches of

gymnastic games of ancient Greeks». He wrote that

Olympic holidays brought together representatives of

the great Greek people, distributed over the large territory, inspired with the

one idea, one feeling — the idea of a holiday, feeling of

a holiday.

The theme of Olympic games as it was marked above, has found its reflection in N.A.Dobroljubova's

creative activity. The famous critic and the publicist, she wrote about it in the story «Fear to enemies».

In I860 at an exhibition of the Academy of arts works, in which

ideas of Olympic games were reflected were exposed. The

artists V.V.Vereshchagin, N.D.Dmitriev were awarded with a gold medal. Sculptor I.P.Panfilov in 1871 has received a gold medal for a bas-relief «Olympic games of

discus throwers».