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Dr. Nigel Spivey
Agent: Caroline Dawnay

Nigel Spivey teaches Classical Art and Archaeology at the University of Cambridge, where he is a Fellow of Emmanuel College. He presented the television series 'Kings and Queens', and 'Heroes of World War II'. As an undergraduate, he was a three-times victor at the Oxford-Cambridge athletics match -- first staged in 1864 -- and he remains an active member of the Achilles Club, which has supplied numerous medal-winners at the modern Olympics.

Comments on THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS: "Spivey's prose is always full of flavour and THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS must rank as one of the most enjoyable and intelligent books about the ancient Greeks on the market" James Davidson, Daily Telegraph
"Well informed, well written, and well organised...all this information is conveyed with an admiral calmness, clarity, and vigour - a feat of scholarly athleticism" The Guardian

SONGS ON BRONZE

FABER (Sep 05)

The Greek myths retold.

HOW ART MADE THE WORLD

BBC WORLDWIDE (26 Apr 05)

BBC series tie-in.

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS

OUP (24 Jun 04)

Winning was what mattered most at the ancient Olympics, and at any physical cost, even death. First place brought kudos and glory, while losers went home in disgrace. And far from hosting a festival of international togetherness, Olympia was a highly politicised arena where the Greek city-states played out their rivalries. Nigel Spivey argues that, despite this, the original Olympics were a remarkably stable and profoundly civilized model of 'war minus the shooting'.

This is the first time that the long history of the Olympic institution has been traced with reference to social behaviour, sexual habits, and the aesthetic ideals of Classical antiquity. Were there any direct links between athletics and military training? Why did Greek athletes compete in the nude? How did the Romans change the games? The mythology and archaeology of Olympia is also explored, revealing the ways in which the Greeks elevated sporting prowess to heroic status -- and a mode of divine gratification.

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