Oplitodromia – The Poseidoniadi

The race of the armed men returns to Poseidonia

The Oplitodromia is one of the most original historical-sporting re-enactments in the province of Salerno: a race run in armor, inspired by the discipline practiced in 500 BC Greece, which was once part of the ancient Olympic program. It is organized by the Municipality of Capaccio Paestum, in Campania, together with the Lampadodromia association, which has worked for years to pass on ancient Hellenic games in the territory that was once the Magna Graecia colony of Poseidonia.

This is not a spectacle for professional athletes: the protagonists are children from the fifth grades of local primary schools, who don helmets and breastplates to compete in front of parents, teachers, and curious onlookers. It is a history lesson turned into a sporting celebration, designed to introduce the youngest to the Greek roots of the place they call home.

How the race works

The rules adapt the ancient hoplite race for a school setting. Each team consists of four members, two boys and two girls, who take turns in a relay: each competitor covers a total of 96 meters, 48 meters out and 48 meters back. The baton is not a stick, but the armor itself.

• Helmet, breastplate, shield, and greaves are passed from one teammate to the next at every changeover;
• during the dressing process, all team members can help each other, and this is where much of the race is decided;
• the team that completes the course in the best time wins, with a final awards ceremony and commemorative medals for all participants.

The formula has remained largely the same over time, but the setting has evolved: in past editions, the race was held in the shadow of the temples within the Paestum archaeological site, while in recent years, the venue has been the spacious Santa Venere hot-air balloon field, which comfortably accommodates schools and the public.

The Poseidoniadi, the project that reignites Greek competitiveness

Starting in 2026, the Oplitodromia is no longer an isolated event: it is one of the pillars of the Poseidoniadi, the historical-sporting project through which the municipal administration, led by Mayor Gaetano Paolino and Councilor Decio Rinaldi, aims to restore a true calendar of games inspired by Magna Graecia to the city. The program complements the Oplitodromia with the Lampadodromia, the spectacular torch relay race that concludes in front of the Temple of Neptune with the lighting of the victory tripod.

The project has achieved significant recognition: public funding from ARUS, the Regional Agency for University Sports of the Campania Region, via a competitive grant, in addition to support from local private sponsors. This is a signal that, as emphasized by the administrators, counts for more than just the financial contribution, as it certifies the cultural value of an event born from the grassroots.

A celebration of school, sport, and mythology

Around the track, the morning is enlivened by re-enactments of Greek deities: costumed performers portray Hestia, goddess of the hearth, Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and Apollo, symbol of solar harmony. In this way, children encounter the Greek pantheon not in books, but in the middle of the competition field, amidst wooden shields, crested helmets, and tunics.

Over the years, the event has involved schools from across the entire municipal territory – Capaccio Capoluogo, Capaccio Scalo, Borgonuovo, Laura, Licinella, Ponte Barizzo, Spinazzo, Tempa San Paolo, Vannulo – and in some editions even the nearby town of Trentinara, creating a healthy rivalry between districts that recalls ancient challenges between city quarters.

Why it is worth attending

Anyone in Paestum in the spring will find the Oplitodromia an unusual and free opportunity to see history in motion. It is a short event, concentrated in a single morning, which integrates perfectly with a visit to the Paestum Archaeological Park, its three Doric temples, and the National Archaeological Museum with the famous Tomb of the Diver. The combination of UNESCO heritage and a race that reproduces the movements of the hoplites conveys the essence of what a Greek city in the Mediterranean was like better than many captions.