Origins & Early Life

Cynisca (; or Kyniska, Greek: Κυνίσκα; born c. 440 BC) was a wealthy Spartan princess. She is famous for being the first woman to win at the Olympic Games. Cynisca first entered the Olympics in 396 BC, where she won first prize competing with a team of horses she had trained herself.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 392 BC, Cynisca entered her horses in the Olympics for a second time and was awarded another victory in the same event. The name Cynisca means 'female puppy' or 'little hound' in Ancient Greek. She was named after her grandfather Zeuxidamus, who was also called Cyniscos. Sarah B. Pomeroy suggest that this unusual name could have been a nickname for a tomboyish woman and it alludes to an interest in hunting.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It is possible that the name is derived from the hunting traditions of the Spartan elite. Per Cartledge, it could have been a tribute to a species of a Spartan hound that was renowned as scenter during hunting. Pomeroy notes that the names of her close female relatives point to equestrian interests in their lineage. Cynisca was born in the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta probably around 440 BC. A member of the Eurypontid dynasty, she was the daughter of King Archidamus...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Agesilaus II — Contemporary figure (Born in -444) (-444): Spartan King of the Eurypontid Dynasty, pivotal figure in 4th-century BC Sparta.
• Isocrates — Contemporary figure (Born in -436) (-436): Influential ancient Greek rhetorician and educator, proponent of Panhellenism.
• Antisthenes — Contemporary figure (Born in -445) (-445): Founder of Cynicism, Antisthenes was a key early student of Socrates.
• Aristophanes — Contemporary figure (Born in -445) (-445): Master of Old Comedy, whose plays satirized Athenian life and politics.
• -440 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -440
• -389 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -389