Iccus of Taranto

Iccus of Taranto (Ancient Greek: Ἴκκος) (5th century BC) was a Magna Grecia Olympic athlete, a victor during the 84th Games (444 BC)^[1] or 70th Games (470 BC) according to older sources.^[2] He is considered the father of athletic dietology. He prepared himself physically before competing according to ethical-religious Pythagorean concepts by abstaining from sexual intercourse and a frugal diet specially prepared. He also taught these principles.^[3] Pausanias calls him the best gymnast of his age,^[4] and Plato also mentions him with great praise.^[5] Iamblichus calls him a Pythagorean,^[6] and, according to Themistius,^[7] Plato reckoned him among the sophists.

References

1. Moretti, Luigi (2014). «Luigi Moretti e il catalogo degli Olympionikai. Testimonianze epigrafiche, letterarie, papirologiche e numismatiche sui vincitori degli agoni olimpici panellenici (Ellade e Magna Grecia: 776 a.C. - 393 d.C.)». Maria Elisa Garcia Barraco. AM; 7 - Arbor Sapientiae Editore S.r.l., Iccus, p. 74. ISBN 978-88-97805-32-8.
2. "Iccus - A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology - William Smith, Ed.". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
3. L’Arte ginnica di Icco da Taranto nel contesto socio-culturale della Magna Grecia; Luigi Stroppiana, Medicina nei Secoli arte e Scienza, 1989, 1:3-12, Roma; ISSN 0394-9001
4. Pausanias, vi. 10. §5-6
5. Plato, de Leg. viii. p. 840, Protag. p. 316, with the Scholium; comp. Lucian, Quomodo Hist, sit conscrib. 35; Aelian, Varia Historia xi. 3
6. Iamblichus, Vit. Pythag. 36
7. Themistius, Orat. xxiii.