Agon
/ˈæɡ.ɒn/noun
A contest, struggle, or conflict, especially in ancient Greek drama or rhetoric.
Did you know?In ancient Greek culture, the agon was not just a battle but a formal contest of strength, speech, or virtue, and it helped shape the structure of tragedy, athletics, and public life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eǵ-
“to drive, lead, or gather”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀγών (agṓn)
“assembly, contest, struggle, or public game”
Late Greek
Greek
ἀγωνίζεσθαι (agōnízesthai)
“to contend or struggle in a contest”
Latin
Latin
agon
“a contest or struggle, borrowed from Greek”
Modern English
English
agon
“a struggle or conflict, especially a dramatic or emotional one”
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