Ancient Greek Olympics

By: Jill Ranck

Why did the Greeks have these Why did the Greeks have these contests?contests?

Held the contests to honor the gods.Held the contests to honor the gods.To show their gods how strong, fit and To show their gods how strong, fit and

graceful their bodies were.graceful their bodies were. They also tried to get on the good side of They also tried to get on the good side of

the gods by: exercising, eating right, oiling the gods by: exercising, eating right, oiling their skin and create a beautiful body.their skin and create a beautiful body.

The Greek tendency was to turn everything The Greek tendency was to turn everything into an agon (competition) , they had a lot into an agon (competition) , they had a lot of athletic competitions in Greece. of athletic competitions in Greece.

The most famous competition is called the The most famous competition is called the Olympic Games.Olympic Games.

Athlete ExpectationsAthlete ExpectationsEach participant had to follow a set Each participant had to follow a set

of strict rules and regulations.of strict rules and regulations. The young men in most Greek The young men in most Greek

cities spent ten months training for cities spent ten months training for the competition under strict the competition under strict supervision.supervision.

The best of the young men were The best of the young men were chosen to compete against the chosen to compete against the other best young men from other other best young men from other cities.cities.

They were put under strict tests to They were put under strict tests to see if the athletes were worthy of see if the athletes were worthy of the games.the games.

Athlete ExpectationsAthlete ExpectationsThe last month of this training had to be The last month of this training had to be

spent at Elis, in one of their extremely well spent at Elis, in one of their extremely well kept gymnasiums. kept gymnasiums.

The greatest care of personal hygiene as The greatest care of personal hygiene as well as keeping in top performance shape well as keeping in top performance shape were enforced. were enforced.

After the ten months of training and testing, After the ten months of training and testing, those who were left, were allowed to those who were left, were allowed to compete in the Olympics. compete in the Olympics.

Athletes would be considered professionals Athletes would be considered professionals today.today.

Athletes were showered with riches and gifts Athletes were showered with riches and gifts as well as women when they were winning. as well as women when they were winning.

The CompetitionThe CompetitionThe young men would meet at the Olympics and The young men would meet at the Olympics and

compete for prizes and for the favor of the gods.compete for prizes and for the favor of the gods.These games were also used to train the men for These games were also used to train the men for

when they join the army and become soldiers.when they join the army and become soldiers.

The events they preformed were similar to The events they preformed were similar to the ones we perform today: running, the ones we perform today: running, jumping, throwing a javelin, and throwing jumping, throwing a javelin, and throwing a discus.a discus.

Only men could compete.Only men could compete. The Olympics were named after the The Olympics were named after the

location they took place in Olympia. location they took place in Olympia.

Time Line of the 5-day eventTime Line of the 5-day event

1st Day1st Day 2nd Day2nd Day 3rd Day3rd Day 4th Day4th Day 5th 5th DayDay

Used for sacrifice and religious ceremonies

Used for sacrifice and religious ceremonies

Marked the beginning of the actual sporting events.

Competed

Competed

Arena at OlympiaArena at OlympiaThe great arena at Olympia was the The great arena at Olympia was the

site for most of the events in the site for most of the events in the games.games.

After years of training and working, After years of training and working, an athlete would finally enter his first an athlete would finally enter his first Olympic games through an entrance Olympic games through an entrance at the arena.at the arena.

EventsEventsBoxing:Boxing: resembled the present day sport but resembled the present day sport but

was fought without rounds until one man was was fought without rounds until one man was either knocked out. Instead of gloves, leather either knocked out. Instead of gloves, leather thongs called himantes were wrapped around thongs called himantes were wrapped around their fists.their fists.

Equestrian:Equestrian: events consisted of chariot races events consisted of chariot races and various riding events. and various riding events.

Wrestling: Wrestling: very similar to today; A very similar to today; A contestant had to successfully throw his contestant had to successfully throw his opponent 3 times making him land on a hip, opponent 3 times making him land on a hip, shoulder, or back to be counted as a throw. An shoulder, or back to be counted as a throw. An athlete was allowed to break fingers but of athlete was allowed to break fingers but of course no biting. course no biting.

EventsEventsPankration:Pankration: event combined the power of boxing event combined the power of boxing with the finesse of wrestling. Very dangerous in with the finesse of wrestling. Very dangerous in nature, these fighters wore no protection on their nature, these fighters wore no protection on their hands and were only outlawed in biting or gouging hands and were only outlawed in biting or gouging ones eyes, nose, or mouth. ones eyes, nose, or mouth.

Running:Running: events involved four different races in events involved four different races in two types of events. two types of events.

Pentathlon:Pentathlon: remained pretty much the same remained pretty much the same since its ancient Greek origins. Participants compete since its ancient Greek origins. Participants compete in a combination of five events; discus, javelin, in a combination of five events; discus, javelin, jumping, running, and wrestling. This was one of the jumping, running, and wrestling. This was one of the most highly touted events of it's time because it most highly touted events of it's time because it showed the overall athleticism of an individual. showed the overall athleticism of an individual.

PicturesPicturesColonnade surrounding the wrestling arena in Olympia.

Olympia, site of the original Olympia, site of the original Olympic Games, located in Olympic Games, located in the west-central part of the the west-central part of the Peloponnesus (hundreds of Peloponnesus (hundreds of kilometers from Mt. kilometers from Mt. Olympus in the far north of Olympus in the far north of the country).the country).

Entrance to the stadium of Olympia. Women were prohibited on pain of death.

Olympic Fun FactsOlympic Fun Facts

The Olympics started in 700 B.C.The Olympics started in 700 B.C. The Olympics are every 4 years The Olympics are every 4 years

ever since.ever since. The competitors would compete The competitors would compete

with barely anything on. with barely anything on.

The End!The End! I hope you have learned a lot about I hope you have learned a lot about

the Ancient Olympics!the Ancient Olympics! I also hope this has inspired you to I also hope this has inspired you to

go home and watch the 2006 Winter go home and watch the 2006 Winter Olympics.Olympics.