Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Olympic Games
Were women allowed at the Olympics?
Shoulder: horseman and woman on right
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Not only were women not permitted to compete personally, married women were also barred from attending the games, under penalty of death. (Maidens were allowed to attend.)
Pausanias tells the story of Callipateira, who broke this rule to see her son at the Games:
Side B: scene at center:athletes and spectators
Photograph by Maria Daniels, courtesy of the University Museums, University of Mississippi
Side A lower panel: woman pursued by Poseidon
Photograph by Brooke Hammerle, courtesy of the Museum of Art, RISD, Providence, RI
Athletic competitions for women did exist in ancient Greece. The most famous was a maidens' footrace in honor of the goddess Hera, which was held at the Olympic stadium. There were 3 separate races for girls, teenagers, and young women.
The length of their racecourse was shorter than the men's track; 5/6 of a stade (about 160 m.) instead of a full stade (about 192 m.). The winners received olive crowns just like Olympic victors.
To read more about these topics, see Further Resources.