While the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece were limited to men and boys, there was another sporting event held every four years that was designed for women and girls. At Olympia, the Heraia race was held in celebration of the goddess Hera. Still, while it may have been a sporting event, the race had a much broader significance.
A rite of passage, the Heraia race was a girl’s introduction into adulthood. During the race, participants would leave their childhoods behind, becoming young women who were fit for marriage. Nancy Serwint, a professor of ancient art and archaeology at Arizona State University explained that “For unmarried girls, the Heraia may have been “a social introduction into adult society.”
Held on a shortened version of the men’s Olympic track, the Heraia race was highly reminiscent of the Olympic races in many respects. The winners would receive olive-leafed crowns and even a portion of a cow sacrificed to Hera. Ultimately, the aim of this ancient race was for young girls, who were believed to be teenagers, to show their suitability for marriage to potential husbands.
Intriguingly, there is little evidence remaining that serves as proof of this ancient ritual. Ultimately, it was statues of female athletes wearing the specific costume that Heraia runners were believed to have worn.