The First Olympic Games in 776 BC – Sport in Greek Art
Historian Jean-Paul Thuillier comes to the Théâtre des Variétés on 12 October 2026 for a lecture exploring the origins of the ancient Olympic Games and the central place of sport in Greek art.
From athletic competition to artistic subject
The talk looks back to 776 BC, traditionally associated with the first recorded Olympic Games, and examines how athletic performance became one of the defining themes of Greek visual culture. Through examples drawn from ancient art, the lecture considers how sport reflected ideals of physical excellence, competition, civic identity and social status.
Jean-Paul Thuillier is a historian specialising in Etruscan civilisation and ancient sport. His academic work offers a broader perspective on how athletic practices were understood in the ancient Mediterranean world and how they were represented by artists.
Good to know
The lecture takes place on Monday 12 October 2026 at 6:30 PM. Ticket sales are announced on site from 5:00 PM. A specific finishing time and ticket price were not published in the sources consulted, so they are not inferred here.
About the venue
Théâtre des Variétés is a central cultural venue at 1 Boulevard Albert Ier in Monaco, regularly hosting lectures, film screenings and public performances.
