When Married Women Were Banned from the Olympics (and What They Did About It)
Imagine this:
You’re a married woman in ancient Greece. The Olympics are in full swing, athletes sprinting, wrestling, and hurling javelins under the scorching sun. The air buzzes with excitement. But you? You’re not allowed to watch. Not even from the sidelines. In fact, if you’re caught sneaking a peek, the penalty could be as severe as death.
Yes, really.
The Ancient Olympics: A Men’s Club
The original Olympic Games, held in Olympia starting in 776 BCE, were as much religious festivals as athletic competitions. Dedicated to Zeus, they were steeped in rituals and traditions. One such tradition? Excluding women, specifically married women, from attending. Unmarried women, or parthenoi, were sometimes allowed to watch, but married women faced strict prohibitions.
The reasoning? Athletes competed in the nude, and the presence of married women was deemed inappropriate. The sanctity of the games and the religious context made their exclusion a matter of both modesty and piety.
Defying the Ban: The Story of Callipateira
Despite the strict rules, not everyone complied. Pausanias, a Greek traveler and geographer, recounts the tale of Callipateira, a widow who disguised herself as a male trainer to watch her son compete. When her son won, she leaped over the barrier in excitement, revealing her identity. Instead of facing punishment, she was honored for her family’s athletic legacy. However, to prevent future incidents, trainers were thereafter required to attend the games naked, just like the athletes.
Creating Their Own Space: The Heraean Games
Excluded from the Olympics, women organized their own athletic event: the Heraean Games. Held every four years in Olympia, these games were dedicated to Hera, the goddess of women and marriage. Young, unmarried women competed in footraces, wearing short tunics and with their hair loose, a stark contrast to typical female attire of the time. Winners received olive crowns and could dedicate statues to Hera.
The Heraean Games provided a rare opportunity for women to engage in public athletic competition and gain recognition in a society that largely confined them to domestic roles.
Women in the Shadows: Owners and Sponsors
Beyond athleticism, the ancient Olympics were a political and religious stage. They reinforced who held power, physically, socially, and spiritually. Banning married women wasn’t just about modesty; it was about control. It defined who could participate, who could watch, and who was considered worthy of visibility and influence in public life.
Women’s Games Did Exist—Quietly
While women couldn’t compete in the Olympics, they found other ways to participate. Wealthy women could own and sponsor chariot teams. Cynisca of Sparta became the first woman to win an Olympic event by owning a victorious chariot team. Her success challenged gender norms and demonstrated that women could achieve Olympic glory, albeit indirectly.
A Reflection on Progress
The exclusion of married women from the ancient Olympics highlights the gender dynamics of the time. Yet, the stories of women like Callipateira and Cynisca show resilience and a desire to break barriers. Today, women compete in nearly every Olympic sport, a testament to the progress made over centuries.
Understanding this history reminds us of the importance of inclusion and the ongoing journey toward equality in all arenas.
Sources:
1. Women Weren’t Allowed to Attend Ancient Olympics? Snopes
2. When Ancient Greece Banned Women From Olympics, They Started Their Own. Atlas Obscura