Victor's Crown by David PotterCall Number: Print: Baker-Berry Stacks GV573 .P67 2012
"Potter's lively narrative shows how sport, to the ancients, was a potent social force. He charts the origins of competitive athletics in Greece and the emergence of the Olympics as a preeminent cultural event. He focuses on the experiences of spectators and athletes, especially in violent sports such as boxing and wrestling, and describes the physiology of conditioning, training techniques, and sport's role in education. The rise of the Roman Empire transformed the sporting world by popularizing new entertainments, particularly gladiatorial combat, a specialized form of chariot racing, and beast hunts. The Roman government promoted and organized sport as a central feature of the Empire, making it a sort of common cultural currency to the diverse inhabitants of its vast territory."