Elis and the Olympics

The Economics of Entertainment

Authors

  • Elijah Vescera Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/pur.2025.110

Keywords:

Financial History, Ancient Greece

Abstract

Critics argue that the Modern Olympic Games, while waning in prestige, place an economic burden on the hosting nation. But was its ancient Greek inspiration as costly? As a religious athletic festival often analyzed for its symbolism, little to no discussion of the event's economic impacts have been raised within academic circles. As a quadrilinear festival, these games permitted Elis, the consistent owner of Olympia, to showcase the excellence of Greek athletics within the Mediterranean world – eclipsing other Panhellenic games. This article argues that the ancient Olympic Games’ prestige, mythology, and ever-increasing tourism fostered economic development within Elis, creating a consistent, millennia-long tradition that demonstrates the financial benefits of the ancient festival. A benefit realized through the existence of a single festival site.

References

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Published

2025-11-03

How to Cite

Vescera, E. (2025). Elis and the Olympics: The Economics of Entertainment. Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.5195/pur.2025.110

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review

Section

Research

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Copyright (c) 2025 Elijah Vescera

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