Pseudo-Dionysius Halicarnassensis, 1. Panegyricus 5: sport and masculinity 

Pseudo-Dionysius Halicarnassensis, 1. Panegyricus 5: sport and masculinity 

3rd century CE

Rhetorical handbook

Literary source

One should also consider what kind of contest has been organized. If it is both musical and athletic, observe that the contest is the most well-rounded and complete, combining both strength of the body and beauty of the voice as well as all other aspects of music. If it is athletic only, observe that it has left out music because it makes the soul effeminate, whereas it has included physical strength, and that this kind of contest is useful for the purpose of the manliness that is required in war.

translation by Alexander Meeus for the Cynisca project

Σκοπεῖσθαι δὲ καὶ τὸν τρόπον τῆς διαθέσεως τοῦ ἀγῶνος δεῖ. εἰ μὲν μουσικὸς καὶ γυμνικὸς εἴη, ὅτι τελεώτατος ὁ ἀγὼν καὶ ἀνενδεῶς κεκραμένος καὶ ῥώμῃ σωμάτων καὶ καλλιφωνίᾳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς μέρεσι τῆς μουσικῆς· εἰ δὲ γυμνικός, ὅτι τὴν μουσικὴν ὡς ἐκθηλύνουσαν τὴν ψυχὴν παρῃτήσατο, τὴν δὲ ῥώμην τῶν σωμάτων παρέλαβεν, καὶ ὅτι ὁ τρόπος τῆς ἀγωνίας χρήσιμος πρὸς τὴν ἀνδρείαν τὴν ἐν τοῖς πολέμοις.

Hermann Usener/Ludwig Radermacher (ed.), Dionysii Halicarnasei quae exstant, vol. 6, Opusculorum volumen secundum (Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana), Leipzig 1929.