{"product_id":"ancient-olympics-9780199602698","title":"The Ancient Olympics","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe word 'athletics' is derived from the Greek verb 'to struggle for a prize'. After reading this book, no one will see the Olympics as a graceful display of Greek beauty again, but as war by other means.    Nigel Spivey paints a portrait of the Greek Olympics as they really were - fierce contests between bitter rivals, in which victors won kudos and rewards, and losers faced scorn and even assault. Victory was almost worth dying for, and a number of athletes did just that. Many more resorted to cheating and bribery. Contested always bitterly and often bloodily, the ancient Olympics were not an idealistic celebration of unity, but a clash of military powers in an arena not far removed from the  battlefield.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42978452308134,"sku":"9780199602698","price":19.9,"currency_code":"MYR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0443\/8471\/4918\/products\/9780199602698_6e34e3f8-a209-4f97-b9df-e0b718fe79c0.jpg?v=1656107547","url":"https:\/\/bookxcess.myshopify.com\/products\/ancient-olympics-9780199602698","provider":"Staging Site ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}