Olympia

1. Olympia By Becca Menzel, Sarah Durbrow, and Kelly Polacek

2. Political • Olympia was a monarchy • When Athens invented democracy, Olympia joined (Delian League) • Olympia sent representatives to Athens to vote

3. Economics • Many Greek were sailors and sailed the Mediterranean sea • Economy based on agriculture • Traded goods such as olives, grapes, and cereals

4. Geographic • Peloponnesus Peninsula • Temperatures usually range from around 40 degrees in the winter, and 65 degrees in the summer • Zeus- one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World • Fertile plain between Alpheios and Kladeos rivers • Inland from lonian sea • Northern bank of Alheus river • Near where Alpheus and Cladeus rivers meet • Countryside; low hills and farmland

5. Social • Olympia was the home of the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. • Zeus (the King of the gods) was worshipped as a weather god, and he was thought to control lightning, thunder, and rain • Olympics were held in honor of Zeus • Believe in Gods (made many monuments to honor them) • All wars and fighting would stop during the Olympics so athletes could participate

6. Social Continued • First to use a gym to train athletes • Culture: children lived with mothers until age 7; went to school at age 7 • Girls take baths in sacred spring before wedding • Clothes were made from wool or linen and dyed with plants • Clothes sewn by women or slaves • Meat was rarely eaten, it was usually used for religious sacrifices • Grew olives, grapes, figs, apples, prunes, apricots, cherries, and dates • Green vegetables were rare and expensive

7. Interesting Facts • Women were not allowed to attend the Olympic Games, only unmarried girls, boys, and men were permitted • If a woman was caught sneaking into the Games, she was thrown off a cliff • Olympic track was 192.25 meters long