Cynisca

Kyniska ( ancient Greek Κυνίσκα ) was a born to 442 BC Spartan king's daughter and is considered the earliest female Olympic champion.

Kyniska was the daughter of the Spartan king Archidamus II and sister of Agesilaus Agis II and II She was a lover of horse racing and won 396 and 392 BC, with a foal - four-horse chariot. Although the direct participation of women was prohibited at the games, but she could circumvent this provision, since she was the owner of the antretenden horses. Unlike other sports, not the rider, but the owners of the animals were honored at hippischen Agonen. In this way they became two-time Olympic gold medalist.

In honor of the gods, they donated a body set up by Apelleas group of figures made ​​of bronze, which was erected in the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and the base was found with an inscription in.

The inscription reads:

Swell

• Pausanias, 3, 8, 1; 6, 1, 6
• Plutarch, Agesilaus 20
• Xenophon, Agesilaus 9, 6