Kyniska and Euryleonis: Comparisons based on the sources
Abstract
Kyniska was daughter of king Archidamos of Sparta and sister of king Agesilaus. She won twice in the chariot races of the Olympic Games. Ancient and modern authors frequently refer to Kyniska’s story, her strong desire to participate in chariot racing, her motives behind her desire to enter the races, her brother’s intentions for encouraging Kyniska to compete and her own city’s honors paid to the Olympic victor. The information that we have in our disposal regarding Kyniska and her unique achievements is plentiful both from ancient and contemporary sources. Euryleonis was another Spartan Olympic champion, who won the chariot race in the Olympic Games, probably in 368 B.C. As opposed to Kyniska, the information that we have for Euryleonis is unusually scanty and unreliable. Ancient authors remain almost silent and the archeological finds have nothing to say. Similary modern authors are very much occupied with Kyniska, so time is not left for Euryleonis and her victory.References
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