Download - THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS 776 BC - 393 AD. THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS TOUR: Introduction –Olympia: site of ancient Olympic games. Green. Lush area. Sanctuary of

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS

776 BC - 393 AD


• TOUR: Introduction– Olympia: site of ancient Olympic games.

• Green. Lush area.• Sanctuary of Zeus was located here.

– Greeks gathered here for over 1000 years to celebrate this great festival.

– Heracles (Hercules) mythical founder of Olympic games.

– Games dedicated to Zeus– Victor received a simple crown of wild olive.

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS• The Greeks referred to sanctuary of Zeus as the Altis.

From the Greek word Alsos for grove.• Sanctuaries were centers of worship. Greeks built

temples, altars, treasuries on these sites.

Aerial view of sanctuary

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS• The Crown:

– Crowns were made from a wild olive tree in the Altis.– This tree was called the olive of the beautiful crown.– Olive oil was the most exported product of Greece.

• (Hercules gets credit for introducing the Olive tree to Greece)


• Early Buildings:– The earliest building at

Olympia are a cluster of Bronze Age houses at the base of the Kronos hill.

– One of these buildings was supposed to be the megaron of Oinomaos, legendary king.

– Another structure is the tumulus of Pelops.

(tumulos is a large artificial mound built over a grave)

View of Kronos Hill


• The Chariot Race:

According to legend, the hero Pelops entered a chariot race with King Oinomaos to compete for the hand of Oinomaos' daughter Hippodamia in marriage. Hippodamia fell in love with Pelops and convinced her father's groom to sabotage the racing chariot by removing the linchpins attaching the wheels. After Oinomaos' chariot was destroyed and he was dragged to his death by his horses, Pelops became king and ruled over the region, which he called the Peloponnese after himself. Today, the southern part of the Greek mainland is still called by this name.


• Scenes from this race decorated the temple of Zeus, built between 470-457 BC.


• The First Temple:– 1st Temple: 7th BC, was dedicated to Zeus and

Hera. Originally of wood but gradually replaced in stone.

– West end of the cella (internal chamber) were sculptures of Zeus and Hera. Head of Hera has been recovered.

– Eventually, this became a temple to honor Hera only.


• Temple of Hera:

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS• Temple of Hera:

– Built in a system of regular proportions. So that many parts relate to others harmoniously.

– Width to length ratio: 3:8– # of pillars seen from front and

back: 6.– # of pillars seen from the sides:

16. – Height of columns, half the width

of the cella.

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS• Temple of Hera:

– Uncovered:• Cedar chest inlaid with ivory and gold.• Bronze disc.• Ivory and gold table: where the olive crowns were set out.


• The Treasuries:– On a terrace at the base of Mount Kronos.– poorly preserved built in the sixth century.– Built by different Greek city-states from 600’s

BC

--The best preserved is the Treasury of Sikyon.

--Served as storehouses for valuable objects.

--Many gave to Olympia as a sign of piety and to win the gods’ favor


• The Sikyonian Treasury: • two chambers lined with bronze.

• the sword of the hero Pelops, with a hilt of gold; an ivory horn inscribed to Olympian Zeus; and a wooden statue of Apollo with its head plated in

gold.


• The Treasuries:


• Temple of Zeus:– completed in 456 BC – was one of the largest

temples in Greece.– Doric style architecture – Columns: simple capitals,

no bases, and heavy proportions.

– six columns on each end, thirteen on the flanks

– built entirely of local shell limestone


• Temple of Zeus: – The sculptures are the best preserved.

• East Pediment: prep for chariot race between Oinomaos and Pelops.

• West Pediment depicts battle between Lapiths and Centaurs

– It was a peripteral temple: inner chamber was surrounded by a columned porch.

– first significant monument of the Early Classical period.


• Temple of Zeus:


• Stadium and Events:– First Olympic event was a

foot race. (only event for 1st 13 olympics)

– By Classic Period: 18 more contests including: Wrestling, boxing, horse races, pentathlon, other running events.

– Stadium was outside the area of the sanctuary.

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS• Stadium and Events:

– A vaulted passageway connected sanctuary to stadium.

– Only a few stone seats for officials.

The Ancient Olympics• Stadium: The track is

212.54 m (697.3 ft) long and 28.5 m (94 ft) wide and surrounded by grassy banks on all sides. All the seats were made of mud and on the southern slope there was a stone platform

The Stadium

The “Exedra” or judges seats

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS• Facilities for Athletes:

• Palaestra: west of sanctuary. Place for boxers and wrestlers to train.• Gymnasium: north of palaestra.• Southwest of Altis was the Leonidaion, hotel.


• Facilities for Athletes: Palaestra.

The Ancient Olympics

• Leonidaion: lodging place for athletes taking part in the Olympic Games at Olympia

– constructed around 330 BCE and was funded and designed by Leonidas of Naxos.

– The building consisted of four Ionian colonnades with 138 decorated columns, forming a square of approximately 80 meters.


• Workshop:– Sculpture Pheidias.

– It is where a statue of Zeus was made.

– Plan of this building matches that of the cella of the temple.

– Molds and tools for making the sculpture were discovered here.

– A cup bearing his name was also found here.


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Boxing:

• Fewer rules• No rounds: fought until

a K.O.– Or one man gave up.

• Could hit opponent when down.

• No weight classes• Men and boys

divisions.• No gloves but

himantes: leather wraps

himantes


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Equestrian Events:

• Chariot Racing: – 2 and 4 horse chariot

races– 12 lap length (9mi.)

• Riding:– Separate races for full

grown horses and foals– 6 lap length (4.5 mi.)– Only wealthy could

afford the event» Owner received

wreath for winning.


• Equestrian Races:


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Pentathlon:

• 5 event challenge• Discus, javelin, running,

jumping, wrestling– Discus:

• made of stone, iron, bronze or lead.

• Shaped like a saucer.• Size of discus varied

according to boys and men’s division.


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Javelin:

• Man size length of wood.

• End: sharpened or attached metal.

• Looks like a spear.

• Leather strap attached for grip

– Increased precision and distance


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Jump:

• Jumpers used lead or stone weights

– Shaped like phone receivers (halteres)

– Increased distance– Held in front during

ascent– Brought behind and

dropped during descent.– Doubled as weight lifting

during training


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Running: 4 types of races

• Stadion: oldest event. Sprint one stade.

– Length of the stadium (192 m.)

• 2 stade race (384 m.)• Long distance run, 7-24

stades.– (1,344m-4,608m.)

• Armor race: 2-4 stades (384-768m).

– Ran in armor.

– Helped train warriors.

– Armor: 50-60 lbs. (helmet, greaves, shield)


• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:– Wrestling:

• Needed to throw opponent on hip, shoulder or back for fall.

• 3 throws needed to win a match.

• Biting not allowed

• One could break opponents fingers.

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