The presence of the Nuraghic bronze statuettes evidences the sport’s birth in Sardinia in a period going from IX century B.C. to VII century B.C., exactly when the Olympic games are supposed to be started. The Panhellenic games were referred to the primitive cult of Pelope.. The “Sardinian” games were instead dedicated to some unknown and very ancient local divinity, related to the cult of the land and fertility, maybe the so-called Big Mother.
Both Greek and Sardinian games were religious events but also the attempt to join two different ethnic groups constantly competing.

In Greece the reconciliation place was the “Altis” in Olympia. In Sardinia there were some different sanctuaries:
• S. Vittoria in Serri
• Serra Orriors in Dorgali
• Albini in Teti.

The games used to take place in large open enclosures near the temple. The meaning behind the competitions was the statement of a proper local identity and of a religious rituality.

---

Pour approfondir
Lottatori e anonimato
Pugilatori
Tiro al bersaglio con l'arco a cavallo