Ancient Equestrianism

Facts

Discipline of Ancient Sports
Participants 2
NOCs 2
Competitions held 0 (Venues)
Distinct events 16

Description

Multiple equestrian events were contested at the Ancient Olympic Games, starting with the tethrippon in 680 BCE, which was held at least 66 times in Ancient Olympia. The other two main equestrian events were the keles, or horse race, held 34 times or more; and the synoris, documented 17 times.

The tethrippon was a four-horse chariot race, while the synoris was a two-horse chariot race. Equestrian events were later on the program for both foals and colts, and some events were specifically designed to enable Nero, Emperor of Roma to win Olympic titles in 67 CE.

All-time medal table

Ancient Olympic Games

NOC Gold Silver Bronze Total
Elis ELI 40 0 0 40
Athens ATH 18 0 0 18
Sparta SPA 17 0 0 17
Macedonia MAK 9 0 0 9
Roma ROM 9 0 0 9
Thessaly THL 7 0 0 7
Kyrene KYR 6 0 0 6
Unknown UNK 6 0 0 6
Siracusa SIR 5 0 0 5
Korinth KTH 4 0 0 4
Alexandria ALX 3 0 0 3
Ambrakia AMB 3 0 0 3
Krannon KRN 3 0 0 3
Rhodes RHD 3 0 0 3
Thebes THB 3 0 0 3
Akragas AKR 2 0 0 2
Argos AGS 2 0 0 2
Gela GEL 2 0 0 2
Kamarina KMN 2 0 0 2
Lindos LIN 2 0 0 2
Sikyon SIK 2 0 0 2
Troy TRO 2 0 0 2
Dymai DYM 1 0 0 1
Epeiros EPE 1 0 0 1
Epidamnos EDM 1 0 0 1
Erythrai ERY 1 0 0 1
Kamiros KMR 1 0 0 1
Kos SKS 1 0 0 1
Larisa LAR 1 0 0 1
Naxos NAX 1 0 0 1
Pergamon PGM 1 0 0 1
Philippoi PHP 1 0 0 1

Most successful competitors

Ancient Olympic Games

Athlete Nat Gold Silver Bronze Total
Bilistikhe MAK 4 0 0 4
Nero, Emperor of Roma ROM 4 0 0 4
Euagoras SPA 3 0 0 3
Hieron, Tyrant of Siracusa SIR 3 0 0 3
Kallias II ATH 3 0 0 3
Philip II, King of Macedonia MAK 3 0 0 3
Agilokhos ELI 2 0 0 2
Akestorides TRO 2 0 0 2
Arkesilaos SPA 2 0 0 2
Arkhelaos I MAK 2 0 0 2
Arkhiadas ELI 2 0 0 2
Euagoras ELI 2 0 0 2
Gnaeus Marcus ROM 2 0 0 2
Hellanikos ELI 2 0 0 2
Hippokrates THL 2 0 0 2
Kallias ATH 2 0 0 2
Kimon, Koalemos, son of Stesagoras ATH 2 0 0 2
Kyniska SPA 2 0 0 2
Lucius Minicius Natalis Quadronius Verus ROM 2 0 0 2
Nikagoras LIN 2 0 0 2
Pandion THL 2 0 0 2
Philistos ELI 2 0 0 2
Psaumios KMN 2 0 0 2
State Victory AGS 2 0 0 2
Theopropos RHD 2 0 0 2
Tlasimakhos AMB 2 0 0 2
Troilos ELI 2 0 0 2
Arsinoe II ALX 2 0 0 2

Event types

Name Gender Still contested? Times held?
Tethrippon Men 66
Unknown Event Men 7
Synoris Men 17
Horse Race (Keles) Men 34
Race for Mares (Kalpe) Men 1
Apene (Mule-Cart Race) Men 4
Foals' Tethrippon Men 8
Foals' Synoris Men 6
Foals' Race Men 7
Colts' Tethrippon Men 2
Colts' Synoris Men 1
Chariot Race Men 2
Chariot Race for 10 Horses Men 2
Chariot Race for Foals Men 1
Tethrippon or Synoris for Foals Men 1
Unknown Event for Foals Men 2