Iccus of Taranto (Ancient Greek: Ἴκκος) (5th century BC) was a Magna Grecia Olympic athlete, a victor during the 84th Games (444 BC)[1] or 70th Games (470 BC) according to older sources.[2] He is considered the father of athletic dietology. He prepared himself physically before competing according to ethical-religious Pythagorean concepts by abstaining from sexual intercourse and a frugal diet specially prepared. He also taught these principles.[3] Pausanias calls him the best gymnast of his age,[4] and Plato also mentions him with great praise.[5]

Iamblichus calls him a Pythagorean.[6][failed verification] According to Themistius,[7] Plato reckoned him among the sophists. Specifically, in Plato's dialogue Protagoras, the sophist Protagoras lists Iccus alongside Homer, Hesiod, Simonides, Orpheus, Musaeus, Herodicus, Agathocles tutor of Damon, and Pythoclides [fr] as fellow sophists (that is, improvers of youth) who chose to present themselves as poets, athletes, or musicians for fear of public disapproval.[8]

References

  1. ^ Moretti, Luigi (2014). «Luigi Moretti e il catalogo degli Olympionikai. Testimonianze epigrafiche, letterarie, papirologiche e numismatiche sui vincitori degli agoni olimpici panellenici (Ellade e Magna Grecia: 776 a.C. - 393 d.C.)». Maria Elisa Garcia Barraco. AM; 7 - Arbor Sapientiae Editore S.r.l., Iccus, p. 74. ISBN 978-88-97805-32-8.
  2. ^ "Iccus - A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology - William Smith, Ed". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  3. ^ L’Arte ginnica di Icco da Taranto nel contesto socio-culturale della Magna Grecia; Luigi Stroppiana, Medicina nei Secoli arte e Scienza, 1989, 1:3-12, Roma; ISSN 0394-9001
  4. ^ Pausanias, vi. 10. §5-6
  5. ^ Plato, de Leg. viii. p. 840, Protag. p. 316, with the Scholium; comp. Lucian, Quomodo Hist, sit conscrib. 35; Aelian, Varia Historia xi. 3
  6. ^ Iamblichus. De Vita Pythagorica. p. 36.
  7. ^ Themistius, Orationes xxiii.
  8. ^ Plato. Martin Ostwald; Gregory Vlastos (eds.). Protagoras (PDF). Translated by Benjamin Jowett. p. 316d–316e.
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