The Olympic Games

What’s it all about? Once every four years men from all over Greece came to compete in a great athletic festival in Elis Women were not allowed to compete. called the Olympic games because the place was called Olympia. It was a religious festival to honor the Greek gods Zeus and Hera Temple of Hera in Olympia, Elis

Years Go By don't know when the first Olympic Games were Earliest record in the time of Homer, 776 BC ended when people converted to Christianity and the Roman Emperor Theodosius banned the games in 393 AD. More than 1000 years. Longest running festival The games were so regular that people used them to date by. They would say, I was born in the second year of the twenty-fourth Olympiad (starting from 776 BC). Modern Olympics began again in the 1880s.

Between the City-States rulers of Elis sent out messengers all over Greece (extended to the Greek colonies around the Black Sea and the Mediterranean) They declared a truce throughout the Greek world for a month. No matter who you had a war with, you had to stop the war and let their athletes and performers go through your city- state safely to get to the Olympic Games.

Sponsorship Each city-state paid for a few athletes from their city to travel to Elis. the men had to swear that they had already trained for at least ten months This meant that only wealthy men could be in the Games, because they could afford to take so long off work, and also pay a trainer.

Let the Games Begin… After arriving at Elis, athletes spent a month practicing and training together in a big palaestra, Judges (also all men) watched the men train, and picked out only the best ones to actually run in the races. The Olympic Games began with religious sacrifices and choirs singing. City-states from all over sent choirs of young men to sing in the choir competitions. Most of the spectators were men also < Palaestra at Olympia, Elis

Olympic Events 170m foot race (originally only event) - Heracles 370m race 4400 m race Heats of runners to eliminate weakest Men ran naked Hoplite race (in armor – helmet & spear) Awarded olive branch from Hera’s sacred grove

More Olympic Events 700BCE – added wrestling and pentathlon 5 events – but only know 4 of them Javelin, discus, running, long jump 688BCE – added boxing and chariot racing Prize went to owner of the horses Vase Painting depicting Wrestling

Play the Games ols/ancientgreece/classics/o lympics/intro.shtmlhttp:// ols/ancientgreece/classics/o lympics/intro.shtml 1.Group together with other athletes from your city-state 2.Opening Ceremonies – Background Powerpoint 3.Pentathlon – Choose a group member to participate in each event. Each event will bring point scores for your city-state and a prize for the individual winner.

Each person has received a card with a symbol on it. Please match your symbol with your city state and locate your teammates. AthensCorinthSpartaOlympia ThebesArgos Your City-State Teams

Points and Prizes 1 st place = 60 points 2 nd place = 50 points 3 rd place = 40 points 4 th place = 30 points 5 th place = 20 points 6 th place = 10 points

Event 1: Race – Trivia Challenge Rules & Procedures 1.NO RUNNING – you will be disqualified 2.Each team will follow clues (1-4) to collect envelopes from places throughout the school. Envelopes for Period 3 – Numbers (1-4) Envelopes for Period 4 – Letters (A-D) 3.Return to class and assemble your puzzle. Then complete the questions on the puzzle sheet. 4.The team who completes the puzzle first wins. 5 points will be deducted for every incorrect answer.

Event 2: Jump – Hoplite-ly Rules & Procedures: 1.Start with one person from your team hopping on one foot. 2.You can tag-in any other group member to hop for you. 3.You will be asked questions about Greek history throughout. The person hopping must answer the question, but the team can help you with the answer. 4.If you get a question wrong, you are disqualified.

Event 3: Wrestling Thumbs Rules & Procedures: 1.This event is for the 1 person on your team who has yet to compete in an event. If your team has less than 5 members, then it is in this event that ONE person may play again. 2.Roll back your sleeves. Competitors will be moderated and eliminated in heats.