The book is significant from a historical point of view, since it is known to be ‘the first extensive work to deal exclusively on the Olympic Games up to 393 AD’ and therefore the first ‘printed’ book of any kind specifically to deal with the Olympics.
The book was published at Groningen (The Netherlands) in 1732, 20 years after the passing away of its author Theodorus Antonides, by his son Meinaert Antonides. It was re-published in 1733 by Warnerus Febens, also at Groningen. In 1984, De Vrieseborch edited 1.000 photomechanical reprints of the book.
The book is mainly written in “Nederduits” (i.e. Ancient Dutch or Lower German), a language that is close to contemporary Dutch. It includes over 1.200 statements in Ancient Greek, Modern Greek, Latin or Hebrew from over 200 authors such as Homerus, Pausanius, Paschalius, Petrus Faber …
The printed version of the book (600 pages) was recently put into a Word version. Being over 300 years old, the language used and especially the spelling of many words, is quite different to contemporary Dutch. Automized translations therefore are of no-good quality. It would be useful for the book to be translated into contemporary Dutch, or even in English, and thus made more widely available to Olympic historians and study centres.
– Philippe De Witt
An essay on the book was published in the ISOH Journal of Olympic History, Issue 2, 2024, pages 6-16.
This work is divided into three books. Each book is organized into chapters. The introduction to each chapter has been translated into English and can be viewed by clicking the down arrow. A link will take you to the chapter in the original Dutch.
How to translate the content: Most browsers will translate the content “on the fly.” However, it is strongly recommended that you use the Google Chrome browser as their built-in translator is far superior to the Firefox browser. Instructions for each browser are as follows:
Chrome (preferred browser): With your desired page (in Dutch) on your screen, click on the three vertical dots at upper right (⋮). Click on “translate” from the dropdown list. At upper right, select your desired language. To toggle back to the original Dutch text, click on “detected language”.
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Book 1 - Concerning the Olympic Games Origins and Equipment
Book Title & Preface
Chapter 1
The Cause of the Games, and the Origin of the Name of the Olympic Games.
Chapter 2
Origin, first Inscriptions, Re-enscriptions, Continuations, Increases and Glorifications of the Olympic Games.
Chapter 3
New Flyer of the Olympic Games. Held every four years. Names of Prize-Distributors and Victors immortalized. From here the Time-account after the Olympic Games, although defective.
Chapter 4
The Olympic Games imitated at Athens and in other places in Greece. Also in foreign countries, as in Sicily, Africa, Syria, Egypt, the Jewish country, and especially in Rome, where they celebrated it more magnificently. On this occasion also Paul and other holy writers.
Chapter 5
Various types of Games listed. Place of the celebration. ‘t Olymp-velt in the Pifaanfche area. The Circus usually takes place in Rome Maximus: also the Theatra and Am- phitheatra. Type to separate in Greece and Rome.
Chapter 6
Equipment for the Games. Qualification of the Olympians. Training Schools of the Greeks and Romans, Their parts, separations, conveniences, and images of God. People in the Training Schools appearing in different kinds. Their Teachers, Overseers, and Ministers.
Chapter 7
Several Games, in which the Devotees were practiced, are listed.
Chapter 8
Lifestyle and Exercises for Examination Sryt-Players. The Meftinge, and so on happened. Abstinence and peninge. Wa- kinge. Abstinence from Byflaap. Work and regular exercise. Shadow sweeps.
Chapter 9
Games Pre-exercises and Pre-plays. Fans showing up. Men of government, deliverers, and judges. The work they had to deliver. Announcement of the Games, and invitation to them. Silent of arms proclaimed. Women forbidden to be present. Order issued to chase away the Flies. Note of the Fans on the Olympic Roll. Examination of the Recorded. Equipment of the Tried Players. Prayers and Sacrifices for Victory. Drawing of lots. Respect for the Men of government. Obligation to those preparing for battle.
Book 2 - Dealing of the Olympic Games Various Kinds and Actions
Chapter 1
Running, which was done on foot. Der Lopers exercise and caution to walk. The place from where the run started. Stadiodromi.
Chapter 2
Horse and Chariot Race. How called. Of very outdated use. Four-pans. Low Horses. Two-pans. Women also here delight. Ten-pans of Nero. Names and practice of Horses. Suitable race without the Charioteer. Before the Horses were put on. Received new names. Race with Foals, Mules and Donkeys. Drawings of Chariot- runners. Their run-out of the Carceres after the Meta. Chariot-runners vows at Taraxippus altar.
Chapter 3
Romans imitators of the Greek Horse and Chariot races. Show horses. Running horses. Their threefold use. Horse and Chariot races instituted in honour of Neptune, Apollo, etc. Quadrigae. How harnessed. Which horses in the middle, which on the right and left side, and why. Various names of those horses. Chariot racers various faetien; distinguished by colours. The spectators’ affections for one or another. By which was shown.
Chapter 4
Circumstances of the Circenfe Chariot-races by the Romans. Drawing lots for the place. Making ready, to run out of the Carceres at the signal. Various Carceres, and what they served for. Detonation of the obstruction-chains. Sign thereto by the Mappa. Exclamation among the People. Beginning of saws. Beginning and ending-measures. Attempts to be the foremost, and to disable each other. The swaying about the measure, and the unfortunate mismatch therein. Running seven times. Distinguishing the winners how it happened. Physicians-Measurers and Keepers of the Horses. Haaftinge to the Prize-distributor. Variety of the prizes. Romans delight in and desire these racing games.
Chapter 5
Two kinds of ship-fights. Often happened simply by a course of ships against each other by counter-rowing. Thus Aeneas had them hold by Sicily. This happened to keep the troops busy and to exercise. Also there were ship-fights with weapons and warfare. Naumachia. Water brought into the great Circus for that purpose. A lake dug out in the smaller Codeta. A new lake in the field of Mars. Others. Nero had sea-mounts float in the waters brought in. Ship-fight-place quickly changed into a place for the ffencers. Ship-plays of Titus, Domitian and Carinus. Ship- fur-theater filled with wine by Heliogabalus. Qualities of the Ship-battle-place and Ship-battle itself.
Chapter 6
The Fight of the Five, Pugilatus. Somewhat distinguished from the Luɛta or Worfteling. Fight of the Five with the hands either bare or armed. Fists are innate weapons, always ready, and the oldest. Oblivion of the Fight of the Five to make a Game. It was only done with folded Fingers. Afterwards they also took Cefti, Girdles, Belts. In the course of time they were set with lead, copper or iron knobs. Their description by Mercurialis and Scaliger. The fearsomeness of this Game of War depicted by Virgil. There one sees various circumstances of the Fight of the Five. Fighters Cefti. Their obesity. Equality of the Cefti. Fighters standing together and standing straight. Striking cruelly at each other. Striking at the face, chest, loins and ribs. Wounding each other severely. Attempting to harden. Signs of defeat and victory.
Chapter 7
Battle of the Romans. Goodwijn trades it itself windy. Muneraii who were. Buftua rii at the burial. Prisoner or Slaves here forced to. Free-born yes Edelleden himself fell into this danger. Announcement this Stryden. Weapons of practice and courage. Paul 1 Cor. 9:26, 27. attracted. For- fchermutzinge with clubs. Ernft-gevegt met other weapons. Persistence or discharge of the Battle. Crown of Victors was from Palm trees. Palma Lemnifcata. Miffio. Ru- dis. Pileus. Using various weapons, they were called Retiarii, Secutores, Thraces, Myrmillones, Hoplomachi, Provocatores, Effedarii, Andabate, Dimicharii, Laquearii. Signs of suspension or progress of the battle. Schools of the Sweert-Players. Meefters Laniftae, and Scholieren Familiae called. The Scherm-Meefter Pater-Familias. Drawings of Challenges.
Chapter 8
Trembling-vegg. Beftiarii. and . Voluntary Civil War. By the great Mughal. By the Spaniards in their bull battle. Forced- gene Beefte-ftryd. It has to be done with some be dead. Incident of Androdus. Warriors the one after the other. Their Names. Oudaan description of this battle. Some to Save the last. Beefte-ftryd changed to De- gentrification and murders on the whole. Meridiani. Klau- great fun in that. The bed with sand beftrooyt. In Arenam defense. Arenarii. The blood and torso of the slain Jupiter Latiaris, Pluto or Dis devotee. Some were burned things taken away. We may kill others besides the Spoliarium the similarity furthermore add an even immense fchelyker ftryd-fpel, t. w. the (*) , ftryd with the wild quakes, t. w. Elephants, will- the Scouts, Leopards, Bears, Tigers, Lions, and they trembled.
Chapter 9
Beefte-jagt: as of Beeften on each other, as of Menfchen on Beeften, Bofch made for it. How prepared by Emperor Probus. Or that Roof-jagt already given by Nero. Animal-hunts long before. Old Danish sweet story of it. Pancarpum or Pancarpus described in detail by Hofman.
Chapter 10
A warrior related to the Fifth battle. Old heroic game. The word of where originally. Training school of this battle called Palaeftra, and these Vegters Athletae by example. Warrior or right or defeating. Right warrior which. Had some similarity with the Fifth battle. This was also a Prelude to the defeating warrior. The defeating of Mercurialis described in detail. The most combative kind of games. Tricks of the warriors varied. The victory consisted in the defeat of the party. This must happen three times. Prizes of the victors.
Chapter 11
The Pancratium or Pammachium which they. Was t’composed of the Fifth-fight and the Worfteling. When came into use. Or the Volutatorium to be distinguished from it. Several things belonging to this. Antoeus very experienced in intertwining with the Counter-Worftelaar and developing it. This game very famous, and even used by Nobles. Also by the most well-born Daughters of Sparta. Dog was by some in contempt and forbidden. Worftelinge on the floor.
Chapter 12
The Leap also belonged to the Games. Three or four kinds of Leaps. Leap without having anything in the hands. Another, in which one, for support and support, had something in the hands, under the arms, or the shoulders, or above the head. These weights are called Halters. The flag of this Game is indicated in detail from Mercurialis: Who also gives a picture of it. Leap on anointed leather bags filled with wine. Mercurialis gives an account of this and a picture from Stephanonius.
Chapter 13
The game with the Difkos or Throwing. Whence so called. Of very ancient origin. Description of the Difcus from Euphthathius and Ammonius. Distinguish between Difcus and Solos. Substance and fashion of the Difcus. Illustrations by Mercurialis. Discs were very true. Disc-throwers undressed and anointed. Power of need, to propel the Disc. Also wit and skill, to direct the throw straight. A rope around hand or arm. Reverse, Disc-throwing laughed at. Prizes for the victor. Disc- throwers, but lesser. Shooting-throwing related to Disc-throwing. Mercurialis distinction between tuffchen Pyl-fietinge and Schigtwerpinge. Where in victory stood. Much use of this Game. Heroes there in. Throw with the Sling this neighboring. Why invented. What made of, and what one threw with it. Balearic Sling. Why those Islanders stood out so much here. Throw-fspel with the Halters. Depiction of it by Mercurialis.
Chapter 14
The Pentathlum, or Five-ply. Why it was so called. Consisted of the five above-mentioned kinds of play. Quinquertio by analogy called one, who is skilful and capable of everything. Pafchalius very neat description of the Five-ply. The first was the single and long Lo on The second the Worftelinge and Tegenworftelinge. The third the flaan with Fives. The fourth the Sprong. The fifth the Disc-throwing. Called the Five-ply-player, who conquered in all these. Also so called by borrowing one who somewhere exceeded others.
Book 3 - Dealing of the Olympic Games Price and Crown of Victory
Chapter 1
Contents of the third Book. Must appear, who was the Victor. Rule here necessary. This was usually the Game-giving Vorft. Also one or more chosen for this. Of less or more skill. Fewer or more in number. Why called Hellanodike. Their work, and that of the Agonothetians. The Hellanodike great respect and fan. Were indeed the Kings themselves. Their session how and where. Were splendidly attired, and indeed in Purple. Had a Crown on the Head. Also Staves in the Hand. These were for splendor, for admonition, to judge rightly, as a sign of power, and ability to punish. Who were already punished. The righteousness of the Stave a sign of Righteousness. The Staff also a representation of Peace. The Hellanodikes are regarded as Presiding Gods of the Game.
Chapter 2
Circumstances of judgment-making and awarding of prizes. The swearing of the Judges. What was done. Were sometimes adjourned. What they had to judge. How necessary so. Investigated, whether had acted lawfully, or truly conquered, or also used clever tricks. Accusing Fifes? Eupolus and Callipus punished for bribing the Fellow-combatants in the Five-game. The same thing happened in the Root- game. Various examples of fraud. Fine of the registered, who did not appear on the right day. Of the cowardly bloody. Calling to the Olympic Council and Nomophylaëtes. Awarding of prizes. Three judges over each particular Game. Second and third Prizes. Prizes of various Games also drawn by some.
Chapter 3
Judge judgment made by the known. These also Men of respect. Had to have marks of an honest life. Were also crowned because of their office. Their work was various. They greeted the Assembly of the People. Proclaimed who were the Victors. Greeted the Victors with their ostentatious names. Summoned the Victors to come to the Hellanodikes and receive the Prizes. Placed the Victors on the Crowns. Accompanied the extinguished Victors through the field, with their praise to resound. Shouted triumphs. The grace and passion of the People often came before the Proclaimers.
Chapter 4
The Prizes various, Smaller and Greater. Smaller as Honors. White Stone. Whether that was truly given to the Conquerors. They received new Stole. Paragandae what. Palm-scions given them as a sign of victory. Were Scions with their fruit. Some think that it was called Surrender. Others understand something else by it. Sacred Games, and their Gifts. Gifts of the lesser Games. Palm-branches displayed. Arose from a Difcus. Mercurialis images. Origin of this use of the Palm-branches. Why do Palm-trees cheer. Exhortation to Hand-clapping and Cheering. The People’s Clapping and Cheering themselves. Beftroying with Leaves and Flowers.
Chapter 5
The essential prize was the Crown. In olden times round Cranffen, which were of various materials, but in the Games of Branches or Foliage. In the four Greek high Games used, but differed according to their variety. Apple-leaves, Apple-scions, yes Apples even used here. Also Olive-branches. How to understand that Daisles is crowned with those, where others call Hercules, others Coroebus. Material of the Crown the foliage of the Tree Kotinos, wanted Olive. This therefore called . Also . Called Holy. The Crown-Olyf was in olden times not in Elis, or at Olympia, but was brought there from Hercules. Iphitus queried them further. Olyph-Crown shape how. Variety of War-Crowns by the Romans. Olymp-Crown and Triumph-Crown probably of one shape. How this Crown placed on the head of the Victors. The place where, and the tables on which f stood. How by the Greeks and the Romans. Calx what signifies in this. Crowns also hung up high. Strange gestures of the Victors by the Crown received. Going to the Crown-place. The ingenuity in this of Emperor Claudius Peerden. Rutumena or Ratumena Porta. Drawing out to the Crown, and Grabbinge of it. Erection of the Crown. By whom f happened.
Chapter 6
Variety of Games and Victors gave variety of Crowns. Some wore more than one Crown at the same Olympic time. Also in other Games victorious received a pile of Crowns. Periodonics. Several examples of such, who had many Crowns. Vain ambition of Nero, to obtain many Crowns, also from lesser Games. To wear a single Crown from the Olympic Games made all honour, and gave much advantage. First, Second and Third Prizes. The last also given for reason. Also Fourth and Fifth. Some examples from Virgil and Statius.
Chapter 7
Ridiculous by some about the price of precious foliage. Thus do Dion Chryphophtomus, Opilius, Diogenes, Anacharfis,. Solon’s ant- words to Anarcharfis. Caffiodorus shows the usefulness. Silius calls them a Beautiful Crown. Peanut Sweet Flowers. Fruits of this one Crown by Tertullian stacked together.
Chapter 8
Tertullian calls the First Benefit of the Crown the Honor. This includes several things I. Name of Olympian and Holy Victors. II. Applause of all, of Friends, of Patriots. Of Fathers, greatly affected by this, and wished happiness. III. Detour through the Court in the Triumphal Robe and the Magnificent Committee. IV. Applause and Praise of all. V. Pointing of fingers. This was sometimes mocking. VI. Congratulation with Flowers, Leaves, etc. Other Snuff- wares added thereto, and thrown to the grab. Also others, whom one wanted to honor, as Gods as Men, so congratulated. Altars erected and kindled with Herbs and Spices. Still other things added. Miffilia. Rapina. Sprinkles on the Calendars of December. New Year’s gifts. VII. Poems and Songs in their praise. Pindar in that to make inimitable. Euripides also praises Simonides. VIII. Announcement by quick Messengers, who was the Conqueror. Examples of that, Dromokeries. IX. Announcement to City or State, from which the Conqueror was. These Took honor in it. Sly tricks about this.
Chapter 9
X. Collection by the Patriots with much pomp and cheer: also by letters made through the bulwarks. Faber reports on this. Various examples. XI. Proof by this, that such a Citizen is more powerful than fortifications. XII. Entry on a chariot with white horses. XIII. A large procession accompanying him in the same way. XIV. Resounding cheers XV. With pipes, trumpets, trumpets etc. XVI. Also with lighting of torches and all kinds of lights. Notable example of Duillius. Of Caesar. Of Emperor Heraclius. A chapter is too small to comprehend all the honors of an Olympic winner: therefore we have thought it right to break off the previous one, to start a new one here, and to decorate it with only a few.
Chapter 10
XVII. Names and victories of the victors recorded in the Book of Olympus. But this began late. XVIII. From their victories, the Matricul incorporated by name, one deduced the Olympic Time-account. XIX. The victors proudly erected images and statues in the Olympic field. Nero had them broken, and treated contemptuously, and a magnificent statue erected for themselves. One time victors only received breast-pieces. Three times victors received life-size statues. Some victors erected such statues themselves. So did their comrades and friends. Also entire cities and states. Were first made of wood, later added of copper. Stood in the form of the Conquerors, sometimes completely naked. Also in the beards, which resembled the battle of the Conquerors. Also depicted their Horses, Wagons, and heavy Weapons. Also other addendums. Various Magnificent Images for a Conqueror. The Foot-foot provided with an Inscription. What it already contained. Also with the Names of the Tellers and Makers. Examples of one and the other.
Chapter 11
XX. Immortalization of the Conqueror by said Deeds of honor. Tertullian determines that eternity carefully. It is but an extension of the memory of the Conqueror. Eternity alone proper to the Godhead in power. This XXI. Divinity and equality with God were also ascribed to the Conqueror. Lucian and Dionyfius call them . Horace calls them Coeleftes. They were even called Gods, and honored as Gods. Also the deceased, called Divi. Examples in Cleomedes, Theagenes and Philippus Butacides. Also the Living. Story of Euthymus. How far this took place around Augustus. Caius Caligula lets Godde- give similar honors. So Domitian. Alex- other de Groot wants to be seen and honored for it being. Some displeased such things. Vleyers dro- they willingly accept that honor. That’s what they did Auguftus, to Nero, and to Domitian. Far- goddess of the dead Kings, etc. Like that Romulus. Of Julius Caesar and subsequent Emperors. Broad description of this by Oudaan. Vergo- things also of the Empresses.
Chapter 12
True Advantages of the Olympian Conquerors. Tertullianus briefly enumerated them. The first was the Dos or Dots, being small. Furthermore, gold and copper Crowns. Also public Privileges. Freedom of all Civic and Public Laws etc. Spending on the Country or City’s bread in the Prytaneum. What this was, and with which Peoples was found. Hercules here the Way-beacon. When this Spending took place. Also an annual Maintenance of Spending was given. Sometimes in Money. Regulation made concerning it. Right given to coin Money. Also right of Free District. Free Towns. From them often Field-Lords or Sea-Guardians chosen. Decision.
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