ISOH Launches Open Access Program with oldest known volume on the Ancient Olympic Games
We are delighted to launch our ‘open access’ in the most appropriate way possible with the oldest known volume on the history of the ancient Olympics which has been painstakingly transcribed by Philippe De Witte.
The book’s full title is “Olympia, dat is Olymp-Speelen der Grieken, nagebootst van den Romeinen, uit oude Griekse en Romeinse Schryvers opgehaalt.” (Olympia. That is Olymp(ic) Games of the Greeks. Imitated by the Romans, collected from ancient Greek and Roman writers.)
The work of Dutch churchman Theodorus Antonides, it first appeared in 1732 in the Dutch University city of Groningen.
It was edited by Meinardus Antonides, son of the author. The volume indicates that it was published by the ’Widow of J. Cost, bookseller at the Market.’
A limited facsimile edition was printed in 1984 but only in a limited edition of 1000 which went to academics, libraries and collectors. The text was originally in Dutch with ancient writers quoted in the original Greek or Latin which has also tended to restrict its appeal.
Thanks to Philippe’s efforts we are pleased to bring this to a wider audience.
His detailed introduction to the volume can be found in the Journal of Olympic History, 2024 Volume Two, pages 6-16 along with some fascinating illustrations.
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