1. Nancy Serwnt's
“The Female Athethic Costume at
the Heraia and Prenuptial Initiation”
Shannon, Bianca, Robert

2. ● Background on the Heraia Games
● Girls custumes for the Heraia Games
● Meaning of the custumes

3. One distintive aspect of Greek Culture was their
pursuit of sport. It was a means in which the
Greeks promoted and celebrated their ethnic
bonds
“No discussion has yet addressed in any detail, however, one of the most visible
manifestations of the Heraoa agon – the athethic dress of its participants. Indeed, the
icongraphy of the unusual athethic costume has been misunderstood and incorrectly
attributed”

4. What was the Heraia?
● It was not very common for women to do athethics, and their
participation was very limited, the earliest competition open to them
were running contests
● “A renouned Greek athethic festival in which females could compete
in running events” that took place every 4 years
● There is no secure date but most evidence argues for a date between
700 and 600 B.C.
● Its purpose was to honor the goddess Hera
● It was organized by ran by 16 married women
● only unmarried girls participanted, and were divided into three age
categories
● Winners were given crowns of olive and a portion of the cow
sacrificed to Hera and were allowed to dedicate statues with their
names to Hera

5. Relationship to the Olympics
● The Olympic games were held by the Greeks in honor of
Zues and were for men only. Therefore, the Heraia can be
seen as a kind of counterpart to that for women to honor
Hera.
● Also, Serwint explains that the parallels between the two
festivals suggest they were held during the same time