Astylos of Croton

Ancient Greek Olympic athlete

Astylos of Croton or Astylus of Croton (Ἄστυλος/Ἀστύαλος ὁ Κροτωνιάτης) was an ancient athlete who competed in three successive Olympic Games. In 488 and 484 BC he won the stadion and diaulos; in 480 BC he won the stadion, diaulos, and hoplitodromos.^[1] Astylos originally represented Croton, but later raced on behalf of Syracuse,^[a] according to Pausanias to please Hiero, brother of the tyrant of Syracuse.^[1] David Young suggests that Astylos' change of allegiance was solely economically motivated, arguing that Hiero "simply bought Astylos' services".^[1]

After Astylos switched allegiance to Syracuse, the people of Croton took down a statue erected in his honour, and turned his house into a prison.^[2] Astylos' victory is the last known victory by an athlete from Croton in any of the four major Greek athletic competitions.^[3]

Nothing is known of Astylos' origin. H. W. Pleket claims that he was a nobleman, but there is no ancient evidence for this; David Young argues that it is unlikely that a nobleman would have chosen to represent Syracuse at the Olympics over his home city.^[4] He commissioned Simonides for an epinicion and Pythagoras of Samos for a statue in Olympia.^[5]

Notes

^ The interpretation of Pausanias is ambiguous as to whether Astylos represented Croton or Syracuse in 484.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Young, David C. (1984). The Olympic Myth of Greek Amateur Athletics. p. 141.
^ Antonaccio, Carl (2013). "Sport and Society in the Greek West". In Christesen; Kyle (eds.). A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity. p. 194.
^ Antonaccio, Carl (2013). "Sport and Society in the Greek West". In Christesen; Kyle (eds.). A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity. p. 195.
^ Young, David C. (2014). "Professionalism in Greek Athletics". In Scanlon, Thomas F. (ed.). Sport in the Greek and Roman Worlds. p. 88.
^ Young, David C. (1984). The Olympic Myth of Greek Amateur Athletics. p. 142.

Ancient Olympic Games

General

Sports

Foot races	Diaulos Dolichos Hoplitodromos Stadion
Horse races	Apene Chariot of polos Decapolon Kalpe Keles Perfect chariot Polos Synoris Synoris of polos Tethrippon Tethrippon of polos
Combat	Boxing Pankration Wrestling
Special	Herald and Trumpet contest Pentathlon

Winners

Acanthus of Sparta Agasias of Arcadia Agesarchus of Tritaea Alcibiades of Athens Alexander I of Macedon Anaxilas of Messenia Aratus of Sicyon Archelaus of Macedon Arrhichion of Phigalia Arsinoe II Astylos of Croton Berenice II of Egypt Bilistiche Chaeron of Pellene Chilon of Patras Chionis of Sparta Cimon Coalemos Coroebus of Elis Cylon of Athens Cynisca of Sparta Damarchus Demaratus of Sparta Desmon of Corinth Diagoras of Rhodes Diocles of Corinth Ergoteles of Himera Euryleonis Herodorus of Megara Hiero I of Syracuse Hypenus of Elis Hysmon of Elis Iccus of Taranto Leonidas of Rhodes Leophron Milo of Croton Nero Caesar Augustus Oebotas of Dyme Onomastus of Smyrna Orsippus of Megara Peisistratos of Athens Phanas of Pellene Philinus of Cos Philip II of Macedon Philippus of Croton Phrynon of Athens Polydamas of Skotoussa Pythagoras of Laconia Pythagoras of Samos Sostratus of Pellene Theagenes of Thasos Theron of Acragas Tiberius Caesar Augustus Timasitheus of Delphi Troilus of Elis Varazdat of Armenia Xenophon of Aegium Xenophon of Corinth
Lists of winners	Ancient Olympic victors Stadion race Archaic period Classical period Hellenistic period Roman period