The Olympic Games

1. The Olympic Games Chapter 9

2. Olympia • Olympic Games • Olympiad • Dromos • Athlos • Sacred Truce • Heraea • Pancratium • Milo of Crotono • Palaistra • Macedonia • Pentathlon • Panhellenic • Pythian Games • Amphora • Theodosius I • Baron Pierre de Coubertin Key Terms

3. Greeks held many festivals to honor the gods and goddesses • Most well-known was held in Olympia to honor Zeus • Came to be known as the Olympic Games • First held in July, 776 B.C.E. • Took place regularly for one thousand years • Four year period between festivals known as an Olympiad • Helped date other important historical events The Olympic Games

5. The dromos was the only athletic event at Zeus’s festival • Dromos is a 186-yard sprint, back and forth across a field • Coroebos was the first winner • More events added over time • Athlos = contest • Olympic Games included athletics, religious ceremonies, and literary presentations over a five-day period The Evolution of the Olympic Games

6. SacredTruce • Any fighting occurring during the time of the Olympics stopped • Athletes could travel safely to and from Olympia • Other Olympic Facts • Participants had to be Greek • Women could not attend – why? • They created their own games, called the Heraea The Evolution of the Olympic Games, continued

7. Running events were held in the stadium • Starting and finish lines with history’s first starting blocks • Why was the track 600 ft. long? The Stadium

8. Discus • Javelin • Wrestling • Took place in the palaistra • Upright wrestling • Ground wrestling • Boxing The Other Events

9. Standing broad jump • 1200 ft. dash • Pancratium • A free-for-all fight (no biting or gouging of eyes, though!) • Milo of Crotonowon this event seven times! • Chariot racing • Horse races • Macedonia – importance? • Pentathlon • Means “five contests” – 200 yd. dash, discus, long jump, javelin, wrestling The Other Events, continued

11. Rules were important • Athletes recited an oath at the altar of Zeus • Judges also promised to not accept bribes • If you or your city were found guilty of breaking a rule, you were eliminated and had to pay a fine • Money raised was used for copper statues of Zeus, called Zanes • Plural of Zeus in the local dialect • The location of these statues was no coincidence: the athletes had to pass them when going to the running track Good Sportsmanship

12. Procession of champions marched to theTemple of Zeus • Winners received wild olive branches • Had a feast; meat from sacrificed animals • Champions welcomed home with fanfare • Placed wreath on altar of patron deity • Received a banquet • Statues made in their honor • Poets wrote odes about them Good Sportsmanship, continued

13. Panhellenic games – open to all Greeks • Pythian Games • In honor of Apollo – where were they held? • Also held every four years, in the middle of the Olympiad • How were they different from the Olympics? • NemeanGames • Winners received wreaths made of wild parsley or celery • Isthmian Games in Corinth • In honor of Poseidon; victors received wreaths of pine needles • PanathenaicGames in Athens • Winners received an amphora w/olive oil • Amphora was decorated with their event Other Games

14. Ancient Olympics ended in 394 C.E. • The Romans were in power • Theodosius I stopped the Games – why? • Arenas and stadiums crumbled • Ruins at Olympia uncovered in 1875 • Baron Pierre de Coubertin • French nobleman • Worked to have the games revived • Games began again in 1896 The Revival of the Olympic Games

15. Traditions from ancient Olympics still honored • Lighting the Olympic flame • Sportsmanship • Some of the same events in the summer games • Discus • Javelin • Pentathlon • Wrestling Modern Olympics

16. Where is Olympia? • Why did the first Olympic Games take place? • Describe the stadium at Olympia. • What was the pancratium? • Describe the racing events at the games. • What cultural events took place at the games? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ztMlmavBw HW Questions