{"product_id":"ancient-olympics","title":"Ancient Olympics","description":"The word 'athletics' is derived from the Greek verb 'to struggle for a prize'. After reading this book, no one will see the Olympics as a graceful display of Greek beauty again, but as war by other means.\n\nNigel Spivey paints a portrait of the Greek Olympics as they really were - fierce contests between bitter rivals, in which victors won kudos and rewards, and losers faced scorn and even assault. Victory was almost worth dying for, and a number of athletes did just that. Many more resorted to cheating and bribery. Contested always bitterly and often bloodily, the ancient Olympics were not an idealistic celebration of unity, but a clash of military powers in an arena not far removed from the battlefield.","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54231750869336,"sku":"9780199602698","price":22.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780199602698.jpg?v=1781763319","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/ancient-olympics","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}