Ah, on the nudity - it wasn't about male physique or keeping women out...
According to Larry Gonick's excellent Cartoon History of the Universe...
The Spartans used to train their males and females naked. Thus, when the Olympics started circa 776 BC, the Spartans took the traditions along with them and competed naked. Being very successful at the Olympics, the idea took hold with the other Greek states. See, it's a bit wrong to talk about the ancient Greeks as if they were one people. The states hardly ever got along and frequently fought each other.
Also an interesting tidbit - boxing was the only sport where you had to concede to have a winner. But Spartans didn't ever concede. Eventually they would boycott the boxing event (unless they knew they would win).
According to Larry Gonick's excellent Cartoon History of the Universe...
The Spartans used to train their males and females naked. Thus, when the Olympics started circa 776 BC, the Spartans took the traditions along with them and competed naked. Being very successful at the Olympics, the idea took hold with the other Greek states. See, it's a bit wrong to talk about the ancient Greeks as if they were one people. The states hardly ever got along and frequently fought each other.
Also an interesting tidbit - boxing was the only sport where you had to concede to have a winner. But Spartans didn't ever concede. Eventually they would boycott the boxing event (unless they knew they would win).