Kyniska

 

Kyniska was a Spartan Princesses, the daughter of King Archidamus II and later sister to King Agesilaus. She was raised in Sparta, where unlike other cities in Ancient Greece, Spartans encouraged their women to train and to be strong rather than simply learning household tasks. In her youth she would have been trained to be athletic and given more time for her education. 

Kyniska is remembered as the first woman to compete and win in the Olympic games. In these ancient times, women were not allowed to set foot on the sacred ground that the Olympics were played on. There was a penalty of death if they dare attempt to even be near the grounds. Kyniska, however, was not going to let this stop her. She found loopholes and exploited them in order to enter the four-horse chariot race also known as, tethrippon. 

Unlike other Olympic games, the chariot races were not won by the rider of the chariot but rather by the owner of the horses. Kyniska owned a sizable estate where she bred, raised and trained horses. In 396 BCE and in 392 BCE she entered her chariot team in the Olympic games. She was between 40 and 50 years of age and became the first woman to participate in the games. She won both times. 

Although not much is known about her motivation to enter the Olympics, some believe it was pure personal ambition while others believe her brother, King Agesilaus, pressured her to. The truth may lie in between and it could have been a bit of both that led her to enter the games. There are those who claim since she was not the rider of the chariot that her win and accomplishments are somehow diminished, however, this is untrue. Kyniska broke cultural barriers in Ancient Greece and thanks to her other women were able to participate in future Olympic games. 

Proud of her accomplishments, Kyniska, had bronze statues of her made. One of the statues stood at the Temple of Zeus in Olympia and inscribed the words, “Kings of Sparta were my fathers and brothers. I, Kyniska, victorious at the chariot race with her swift-footed horses, erected this statue. I claim that I am the only woman in all Greece who won this crown.” 

Kyniska not only won but she relished in her victories and by proudly celebrating them she sent a message to all the women of the Ancient Greek world, that they too could be victors of the games. 

Sources: 

https://theconversation.com/hidden-women-of-history-kyniska-the-first-female-olympian-123909

https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/kyniska-0014543

Image Details: 

Cynisca by Sophie de Renneville, 1825