Bronze figure of a running girl

In the Greek world it was very unusual for women to take part in sport, and so a depiction of a girl competing in a running race is rare. The appearance of this young woman corresponds well with an ancient description of the girls who ran in the Heraia, the games held in honour of Hera at Olympia. These games were separate from the Olympics, which were staged in honour of Zeus, and held at a different time of year. They consisted solely of a sprint, with three heats for girls of different ages. Women