gymnasion-greece:

Diagoras of Rhodes Διαγόρας της Ρόδου

Diagoras of Rhodes (Greek : Διαγόρας ὁ Ῥόδιος) was an ancient Greek boxer from the 5th century BC, who was celebrated for his own victories, as well as the victories of his sons and grandsons. He was a member of the Eratidea family at Ialysos in Rhodes.

Diagoras descended from Damagetus, king of Ialysus, and, on the mother’s side, from the Messenian hero, Aristomenes . Diagoras was victor in boxing twice in the Olympic games , four times in the Isthmian , twice in the Nemean , and once at least in the Pythian Games. The fame of Diagoras and his descendants was celebrated by Pindar (Olympian Odes VII). A local soccer club, Diagoras F.C., and the Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras” are named after him.

His three sons were Olympic champions. The oldest son, Damagetos, won the pankration in 452 and 448 BC. Akousílaos, the second son, won the boxing in 448 BC. The two celebrated their victory by carrying their father around the stadion on their shoulders, cheered loudly by the spectators. This was considered the peak of happiness that a human being could experience, achieving great glory and yet having this glory matched or even surpassed by one’s own children. Legend has it that during Diagoras’ triumphant ovation on the shoulders of his sons, a spectator shouted: Die, Diagoras; you will not ascend to Olympus besides the meaning being that he has reached the highest honor possible for a man. Indeed Diagoras died on the spot, and has since been considered the happiest mortal that ever lived.

His youngest son, Dorieús, was even more successful than his brothers.

Ο Διαγόρας ο Ρόδιος ήταν ένας από τους διασημότερους πυγμάχους της αρχαιότητας και γενάρχης ολυμπιονικών. Καταγόταν από αριστοκρατική οικογένεια της Ιαλυσού (αρχαίας ροδιακής πόλης). Πατέρας του ήταν ο Δαμάγητος, εγγονός του βασιλιά της Ιαλυσού, και η μητέρα του ήταν κόρη του ήρωα Αριστομένη από την Μεσσηνία.Νίκησε στο αγώνισμα της πυγμαχίας στην 79η Ολυμπιάδα το 464 π.Χ. Την νίκη του εξυμνεί ο Πίνδαρος στον Ζ’ Ολυμπιόνικο. Ο Διαγόρας ήταν επίσης περιοδονίκης (νικητής και των τεσσάρων πανελλήνιων αγώνων). Σε προχωρημένη ηλικία το 448 π.Χ. ήταν παρών στην Ολυμπία όταν οι γιοί του Δαμάγητος και Ακουσίλαοςστέφθηκαν Ολυμπιονίκες. Λέγεται ότι αμέσως μετά την ανακήρυξή τους σε Ολυμπιονίκες, οι γιοί του ανέβασαν τον πατέρα τους στους ώμους τους και τον περιέφεραν θριαμβευτικά στο στάδιο. Τότε ένας από τους θεατές αναφώνησε Κάτθανε Διαγόρα, ουκ εις Όλυμπον αναβήση (Πέθανε Διαγόρα, μην περιμένεις να ανέβεις και στον Όλυμπο) και ο Διαγόρας εν μέσω των επευφημιών και πλήρης ευδαιμονίας άφησε την τελευταία του πνοή. Ολυμπιονίκης στέφθηκε και ο τρίτος γιος του Δωριέας καθώς και τα εγγόνια του Ευκλής και Πεισίρροδος, γιοί της κόρης του Φερενίκης και της κόρης του Καλλιπάτειρας.

Nude
images of male athletes, gods and fighters could be found everywhere in ancient
Greece.

Everywhere!

These
images were displayed wherever people gathered, to serve as symbols of Areté or
Manly excellence – to remind the ancient Greeks just how much they valued and
cherished Areté. 

These
male nude images were symbols of Righteousness, that when a Man had Areté, that
he was in total possession of his Manhood.

A Man
with Areté had the ability and willingness to fight. He possessed all the Moral
Virtues that make Men good, such as Humility, Integrity, Selflessness, Self
Control and showing the proper Respect for people, places and things.

Areté
was very important to the ancient Greeks.

Areté is very important to us as well.

Train and fight!

Always seek and cherish Manliness!

WarriorMale