Contents:

Introduction

Crimes of Theft

Rule Violations

Sacrileges

Political Crimes

Unusual Crimes

Punishments

Extent of Corruption

Further Exploration

Sources

Sacrileges: As previously noted, all crimes could have been considered sacrileges, but additional illegal activities transpired that directly violated the gods' laws. For example, Thucydides describes an invasion during a festival's time of peace, an occurrence disrespectful to the deities (Thucydides, 3.65.2). Furthermore, Pindar's Olympian Odes reveal the crime of hubris, or human arrogance before the gods (Pindar, 2.30; Martin, 10.1.2). Pausanius, too, provides accounts of impiety, as well as accounts of crimes committed directly against Zeus' suppliants (Pausanius, 10.33.2; 4.24.7). Such acts seem to directly challenge the modern notion of purity in the ancient games (Dupont, D8).


(Ganymede serving Zeus)

Next Section

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