Olympic Glory for a Princess

Noble Blood – Hosted by Dana Schwartz
Date: February 24, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode of Noble Blood, host Dana Schwartz explores the extraordinary story of Cynisca (Siniska), a Spartan princess who became the first woman to win at the ancient Olympic Games—over a thousand years before Princess Anne of England competed in the modern Olympics. Dana delves into the history of Olympic competition, women's roles in ancient Greece—particularly Sparta—and the consequences of Cynisca's victories for her legacy and female athletes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Royal Passion for Equestrian Sports

• Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Ascot Success

  • Dana opens with a modern parallel: Queen Elizabeth II’s victories at the Royal Ascot, notably winning the Gold Cup in 2013 with her horse, Estimate, along with numerous other wins spanning decades.
  • Quote: "Winning was certainly a feather in Queen Elizabeth’s well-structured pastel colored hat." (02:37)

• Princess Anne and the Olympics, 1976

  • Princess Anne (daughter of Elizabeth II) competed in the Montreal Olympics' equestrian events, finishing 7th.
  • She sustained a concussion after a fall but completed the course, highlighting both the glamour and danger of royal competition.
  • Quote: "Even so, I think you’ll agree, there’s still something dazzling about a Princess at the Olympics. Romantic even." (03:50)

The Ancient Olympics: Origins & Traditions

• Olympic Games: From Antiquity to Modernity

  • The modern Olympic Games began in 1896, inspired by ancient Greek traditions dating to 776 B.C.
  • Elements like laurel leaves on medals and event types purposefully recall ancient Greece.
  • Greece always leads the opening ceremony procession, “while everyone else mostly goes in alphabetical order.” (05:40)

• Panhellenic Games

  • The Olympic festival at Olympia took place every four years and outshone other games at Isthmia, Nemea, and Delphi.
  • Competitions persisted for over a millennium, blending Greek unity with rivalry.

Spotlight: Cynisca—The First Princess Olympian

• Cynisca of Sparta: Background

  • Daughter of King Archidamus II of Sparta, likely born around 440 B.C.
  • Her name (“Cynisca,” possibly a nickname) means “female puppy” or “little hound," probably referencing her athleticism and a family nickname.
  • Spartan women enjoyed relatively more freedom (property rights, literacy, athletics) compared to other Greek city-states, but this was built upon widespread slavery.

• Spartan Women's Status

  • Dana stresses the nuance: while free, noble women like Cynisca had privileges, the majority of Spartan women who were enslaved had none.

• The Olympic Loophole for Women

  • Women could not compete or (possibly) even attend as spectators, but a loophole in chariot racing allowed them to own and train teams.
  • Quote: "They couldn’t be the ones driving the chariots, but they could be the ones who owned and trained the horses. And in the chariot races, the person who owned and trained the horses was the actual competitor." (11:56)

Motivations & Achievements

• Why Did Cynisca Enter the Games?

  • Some believe her brother (King Agesilaus II) encouraged her—possibly to expose the event's elitism, possibly to glorify their family.
  • Dana points out the unreliable, agenda-driven nature of ancient sources but suggests familial pride likely played a role.

• Cynisca’s Historic Wins

  • In 396 B.C., Cynisca’s four-horse chariot team won, and she repeated her victory in 392 B.C.
  • It’s debated whether she was even allowed to witness her own victory at Olympia due to gender restrictions.

• Commemoration & Legacy

  • Cynisca commissioned a set of bronze statues for the temple of Zeus (herself, her charioteer, the horses) and inscribed her achievement for posterity.
  • Quote: "Kings of Sparta are my father and brothers. I, Cynisca, victorious with a chariot of swift-footed horses, have erected this statue. I declare myself the only woman in all Hellas to have won this crown." (14:30)
  • She also became the first woman honored with a hero shrine at Sparta’s plane tree grove.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Spartan Women’s Freedoms (09:20)
  "From the outside, their reputation was as promiscuous and domineering, loud, dominant, sexual... as you might imagine from what ideas you have about Sparta... Spartan women were also quite athletic."

• On the Paradox of Spartan Society (11:14)
  "It’s important to remember the only reason young Spartan women were free from the confines of domestic labor... was because Sparta had a robust system of slavery where most of the population was enslaved."

• On Cynisca’s Monumental Inscription (14:30)
  "Kings of Sparta are my father and brothers. I, Cynisca, victorious with a chariot of swift-footed horses, have erected this statue. I declare myself the only woman in all Hellas to have won this crown."

• Reflections on Historic Parallels (15:19)
  "It’s a legacy that proves that when Cynisca achieved victory at the Olympics, just like today, her countrymen back home were extremely proud of her."

[Important Segment Timestamps]

• 01:01 – Noble Blood intro and episode setup
• 02:37 – Queen Elizabeth II & Royal Ascot victories
• 03:50 – Princess Anne at the Olympics
• 09:20 – The status of women in Sparta
• 11:56 – The loophole for women to “compete” in the Olympics
• 14:30 – Cynisca’s oral inscription; legacy
• 15:19 – Reflection on her lasting impact

Bonus: Ancient Olympic Truce (17:00)

• Dana dispels the myth that wars stopped completely for the Olympics; rather, the “Olympic truce" (ekecheiria, meaning “the holding of hands”) protected athletes and pilgrims traveling to Olympia, even across enemy territories.

Conclusion

This episode weaves together the stories of royal athleticism from modern Britain back to ancient Sparta, revealing how, despite societal boundaries, a princess managed to etch her name in Olympic history. Cynisca’s legacy reminds listeners that while the games glorified male achievement, determined women found daring ways to claim their own glory—and recognition—against the odds.