User talk:Ironic fate

Hello,

We would like to know if the following page could be displayed in the 'Phoenicia' section, because we've found these infos from this site: http://www.phoenicia.org/phoenicianolympics.html which could be very interesting:

Was Phoenician sport the foundation of the Olympic Games?

I In the light of archaeological Excavations

* In Amrit, on the coast of northern Phœnicia, we have uncovered a Pheoenician STADIUM, dating at least from the XVth century BC. The town’s temple, a typical example of Phoenician temples, is found 200 m. from the stadium. * This stadium measures 225 m. long and 30 m. wide. Its topography is identical to that of the stadium at Olympia. The area of Amrit has been cited under the name of "Mrt" and "Amrat" in Egyptian texts (XVth century BC) and of "Marathus" in classical scripts. It is certain that there are only very old Phoenician remains in Amrit and no Greek or Roman monuments. * In Tyre, the first archaeological excavations showed sports grounds of the Hellenic and Roman periods as well as traces of Phoenician sports grounds. * Palaestra and Gymnasium (Hellenic These two monuments coincide with the topography and the measurements of the palaestra and gymnasium of Olympia, dating from the III-IIth centuries BC. It can very easily be established that the Hellenic palaestra of Tyre was built on the remains of a much older palaestra, which appears to be Phoenician.   * The gymnasium is found about ten metres away. This monument with a double porch about 200 m. long and 11 metres wide, was originally a covered hall, as in Olympia, and was used by the stadium runners (192,27m.) for training when it rained or was very hot.    * The Roman baths, built later, are found in this gymnasium.    * In the period of the Greeks, the palaestra was the exercise place for wrestling, boxing and the jump, while the gymnasium was used for running and discus and javelin throwing.    * The games of the gymnasium and palaestra were not common in Roman times, said Vitruve (1st century BC).1 * They replaced them with the amphitheatre ceremonies from which the gladiators and animal fighters evolved. The amphitheatre, together with the circus, was the high-place of popular and sports festivals during the Roman period. * Circus (Roman period) The circus is found some 1500 metres from the gymnasium with an "Arc de Triomphe" and Roman tombs at its entrance. If Tyre had been affected by the Roman period, we have not found evidence of an amphitheatre up till now, which should not be far from this circus. The sport complexes of Roman games usually centred on the circus and amphitheatre.

II. In the light of texts and inscriptions

Historical writings, as well as the results of archaeological excavations, show that the Phoenicians, exiled in Greece, introduced their gods, customs and traditions there.2 In Olympia, the Phoenicians had (in the XVIth century BC) a sanctuary for Melkart, to whom offerings were made.3

Elis (El-is), the high place of Olympus, was the "Land of El", ground of the Phoenicians’ supreme god established in Greece.4

Philon of Byblos and Josephus Flavius revealed that the Greeks later adopted in Olympia the custom of the god of Tyre "Baal-Shamen" and called him "Zeus Olympia".5 These historical offerings are testified by the exploration of Phoenician deities and works of art in Olympia. These are representations of Baal and statues of horsemen from the VIIIth century BC.6 All the writings of Greek historians show that Melkart of Tyre, known in Corinth as Melikertis, in whose honour the Isthmic Games were celebrated from the VIth century BC, was known in Olympia as Herakles, founder of the Olympic Games in honour of Baal (=Zeus).7 Melkart-Herakles came to Olympia from the town of Thebes founded by Cadmus and his successors (according to Pindare) or from Crete where the Phoenician deities were worshipped (according to Pausanias). The fight of Herakles- Melkart with the gods, at the beginning of the Olympic Games, was only an echo of the custom practised by the Phoenicians many centuries beforehand. According to Ugarit’s inscriptions,8 Baal fought against the other gods at fixed times of the year. This made Melkart, deified hero of Tyre, follow the custom of the fight in honour of Baal.

Tyre, keeping this ancient custom in the Hellenic period, celebrated great sports festivals in honour of Melkart, champion of champions.9 In the year 175 BC, King Antiochus Epiphane IV presided over these Games. An inscription has been found in Tyre that mentions the name of a certain Evitchus of Ephese, who won the pentathlon event.10 These games called "Actia Héraclia" or more accurately "Actia Melkartia" were also held at Tyre during the Roman period.11

Most important points:

1.

Olympia received its sanctity and culture from Tyre. The intermediary of Baal, known in Greece as Zeus brought about the spiritual closeness of the two towns. Most important points 2.

Melkart arrived in Olympia, bringing the traditions and culture of Baal, from places where Phoenician worship was deep-rooted and established the Games of Olympia in honour of Baal (=Zeus), with sport as their basis. 3.     These ceremonial games established in Olympia already existed in Phoenicia (Amrit stadium, Tyre temple with traces of Phoenician sports grounds under the Hellenic monuments). These games, originally, were therefore introduced in Olympia by the Phoenicians.

Dr. Labib Boutros

References:

1. Vitruve, De Architectura, V, II. 2. Eusèbe de Césarée, Préparation évangélique, l.      3. Pausanias, Description de la Grèce, V, 25, 12. 4. Brown, Robert, Semitic influence in hellenic mythology, p. 138. 5. Philon de Byblos, II; Josephus, Flavius, Guerre des Juifs, IX, 38, VIII, 145-147; Contre Apion, l, 18. 6. Rapport, Olympia-4 (1890), Olympia-7 (1960), Olympia- 8 (1967). 7. Pindare, Odes Olympique, II, 3, III, 14, VI, 67, X, 23. 8. Freyha, Anis, Ugarit, p. 420. 9. La Bible, II Maccabéens, 1922, p. 116. 10. Le Lasseur, revue Syria, 1922, p. 116. 11. Babelon, Ernest, Les Perses Achéménides, p. 329.