Year 9
Unit 2 - Classical Greece
Lesson 2 - The Olympic Games
All Greek states encouraged their citizens to take part in sport. There was a practical reason for this. Sport helped to keep young men fit and in good fighting condition for the wars which frequently took place between states. There were many sporting competitions, some of which attracted athletes from all over Greece. The most famous of these competitions was the Olympic Games, which began in 776 BC. These games were so-called because they were held at Olympia in honour of the God Zeus.
All Greek states encouraged their citizens to take part in sport. There was a practical reason for this. Sport helped to keep young men fit and in good fighting condition for the wars which frequently took place between states. There were many sporting competitions, some of which attracted athletes from all over Greece. The most famous of these competitions was the Olympic Games, which began in 776 BC. These games were so-called because they were held at Olympia in honour of the God Zeus.
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The games, which were held every four years, lasted for five days during the month of August. During this month, all wars between Greek states had to stop, so that up to 20,000 spectators and competitors (all of whom were male!) could travel safely to and from Olympia.
Many fine buildings and sports areas were constructed specially for the games. There was an open-air stadium which could hold up to 40,000 spectators to watch running events. There was a palaistra, where wrestlers and jumpers trained. There was a hippodrome holding horse races. Perhaps the most important building was the temple of Zeus. It contained a gold and ivory statue to the God which was over 13 metres tall!
On the opening day of the games, all the competitors gathered to make offerings to Zeus. A special relay race was held. But, unlike relay races of today, team members passed lighted torches instead of batons to each other. The final runner of the winning relay team would then use his torch to light a flame on a special altar dedicated to the God. Then, in an atmosphere of great excitement, the games would begin. The main events are described below.
Running: Running was the oldest event of the games. The track in the stadium was nearly 200 metres long and races varied from a sprint race of one length of the track to a long race of twenty four lengths. The athletes were naked, which was normal in most sporting competitions of ancient Greece. There was, however, one special race in which each runner had to wear armour and a helmet and had to carry a shield.
Many fine buildings and sports areas were constructed specially for the games. There was an open-air stadium which could hold up to 40,000 spectators to watch running events. There was a palaistra, where wrestlers and jumpers trained. There was a hippodrome holding horse races. Perhaps the most important building was the temple of Zeus. It contained a gold and ivory statue to the God which was over 13 metres tall!
On the opening day of the games, all the competitors gathered to make offerings to Zeus. A special relay race was held. But, unlike relay races of today, team members passed lighted torches instead of batons to each other. The final runner of the winning relay team would then use his torch to light a flame on a special altar dedicated to the God. Then, in an atmosphere of great excitement, the games would begin. The main events are described below.
Running: Running was the oldest event of the games. The track in the stadium was nearly 200 metres long and races varied from a sprint race of one length of the track to a long race of twenty four lengths. The athletes were naked, which was normal in most sporting competitions of ancient Greece. There was, however, one special race in which each runner had to wear armour and a helmet and had to carry a shield.
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Boxing: Boxing tended to be more bloody than boxing of today. In the first place, almost any blow of the hand to any part of the body was allowed. Secondly, a contest would go on until one of the boxers surrendered or was knocked completely unconscious. This could take several hours.
Wrestling: There were three different wrestling events. There was upright wrestling, in which the winner had to throw his opponent three times. There was ground wrestling, which went on until one man gave in. But by far the most dangerous (and most popular) type of wrestling was called pankration. In this event every tactic was allowed except for biting and eye-gouging. Competitors were sometimes killed during pankration events. (right) The pentathlon: One of the most difficult events of the Olympics was the pentathlon, which was designed to find the best all-round athlete. It consisted of five different events: running, jumping, javelin throwing, discus throwing and wrestling. Chariot racing: Chariot races were run over twelve laps round two posts in the ground. There were separate races for chariots pulled by two horses and for chariots pulled by four horses. Up to forty chariots could take part in a race and there were often nasty accidents, especially in the larger races. One such accident is described here by the poet Homer: |
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The competitor Eumelos was thrown from his chariot close to the wheel. The skin was ripped from his mouth and nose and elbow and his forehead was smashed open. His mighty voice was silenced. What a race!
The winners
On the fifth and final day of the Olympic Games, each winner was presented with his prize. It was a very simple prize - a crown made from the branches of a sacred olive tree which grew in Olympia. But when the winning athlete returned home, further benefits awaited him. He was treated as a hero. He might receive free meals for life, or permanent front-row seats at the theatre or even have a statue built in his honour. The Spartans honoured their Olympic champions by allowing them to fight in the front row of their army in battle!
The modern Olympics
The ancient Olympic games lasted for over one thousand years. They were abolished finally by the Romans (who had conquered Greece by this time) in 395AD. The games vanished for 1500 years.
On the fifth and final day of the Olympic Games, each winner was presented with his prize. It was a very simple prize - a crown made from the branches of a sacred olive tree which grew in Olympia. But when the winning athlete returned home, further benefits awaited him. He was treated as a hero. He might receive free meals for life, or permanent front-row seats at the theatre or even have a statue built in his honour. The Spartans honoured their Olympic champions by allowing them to fight in the front row of their army in battle!
The modern Olympics
The ancient Olympic games lasted for over one thousand years. They were abolished finally by the Romans (who had conquered Greece by this time) in 395AD. The games vanished for 1500 years.
Activities
Questions
Why were young people encouraged to take part in sports and in events like the Olympics?
Questions
Why were young people encouraged to take part in sports and in events like the Olympics?
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Using Word, create a table to compare and contrast the modern Olympics with the ancient version. Try to identify at least five significant similarities and five differences, at least one of which must be something you learnt from the film.
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Explain why the ancient Olympics came to end.
Research activity
Do some research about the modern Olympic games. When did they begin? Whose idea was it? Why were the games restarted?
Write a brief summary - 350-400 words of what the first modern Olympics were like.
Research activity
Do some research about the modern Olympic games. When did they begin? Whose idea was it? Why were the games restarted?
Write a brief summary - 350-400 words of what the first modern Olympics were like.