Greece :Greece The Ancient Olympic Games, Ionian Greeks, & Pythagoreans By: Karen G. Talla


Origin of the Ancient Olympics :Origin of the Ancient Olympics Two main theories describe the origin of the Ancient Greek Olympic Games: One myth explains that the supreme god himself, Zeus, started the Olympic Games to commemorate his victory over his father, Cronus, to rule the world. Another myth explains that the Greek hero Pelops developed the Olympic games after he defeated King Oenomaus to marry his daughter, Hippodamia.


Map of Ancient Olympia :Map of Ancient Olympia


Olympia, Greece :Olympia, Greece Because Olympia was one of the major religious capitals of Greece, and athletics were one way to honor their gods, Greeks celebrated the Olympic games in Olympia, Greece every four years. Olympia was not a town; instead, it was a national shrine for the Greek deities, where it was decorated with temples, monuments, altars, theaters, and statues.


Athletes :Athletes Greek men were the only individuals allowed to participate in the ancient Olympic Games. Women were not given the privilege to compete in the Games, nor were married women allowed to attend - punishment for disobeying this law is death. Athletic competitions were held for Greek women in the Olympic stadium, as well. For instance, the maidens' footrace was developed to honor Hera, the goddess of marriage and birth. In this sporting event, maidens competed against the maidens of the same age.


Ancient Olympic Sports :Ancient Olympic Sports Boxing: Unlike this generation, boxing had lesser rules in ancient Greece. In this event, rounds were not given. Additionally, the boxers fought one another until one fighter was knocked out, or surrendered. Pankration: This sporting event in the ancient Games was a combination of boxing and wrestling. Punching and kicking were allowed; whereas biting and gouging the other fighter's mouth, nose, or eyes were prohibited. Pentathlon: The Pentathlon was a combination of five sporting events: jumping, wrestling, running, discus, and javelin. Discus: Usually made of iron, stone, bronze, or lead, the discus was shaped similar to a flying saucer, and was used to throw a distance farther than his other competitors.


Ancient Olympic Sports Cont. :Ancient Olympic Sports Cont. Javelin: In this event, a light wooden pole that was as tall as the competitor was thrown to a distance farther than their own competitors. A thong, which was used to better grip the javelin, was used in the ancient Olympics. Jumping: To increase the height of their jump, ancient Athletes used halteres, or jumping weights, that were shaped like telephone receivers made of lead or stone. Running: Ancient Athletes ran for 1 stade, or 192 meters, 2 stades, or 384 meters, or 7-24 stades, or 1,344 to 4,608 meters. In addition, Greek men in the military competed in the hoplitodromos, which is a running event that included the following wardrobe: greaves, a helmet, and shield. Wrestling: This Olympic event took place in a muddy arena, called a keroma. Additionally, a competitor was covered in olive oil and dust to be easier to grasp. There were two types of wrestling: orthia pale, or upright wrestling, and kato pale, or ground wrestling.


Pentathlon :Pentathlon Discus Javelin Running Wrestling Jump


Ancient Olympic Sports Cont. 2 :Ancient Olympic Sports Cont. 2 Equestrian events included chariot racing and riding. Two-horse and four-horse chariot races, as well as carts pulled by two mules, were drawn for twelve laps, or about nine miles. For racing, jockeys rode their horses for six laps, or about 4.5 miles. Since wealthy Greeks were the only ones who could afford the equipment, training, and food of both the drivers and horses, they were the ones to receive the olive wreath crown instead of the driver.


Olive Leaves :Olive Leaves Unlike this generation, instead of receiving a medal, during the ancient Olympics, a crown of olive leaves were given to the victor. In addition, the victor was promised to have a statue of himself in Olympia.


Ancient Greek Olympic Games :Ancient Greek Olympic Games The ancient Greek Olympic Games not only honored Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, but also celebrated the importance of athletics and cultural accomplishments. The Games acted as a family gathering that allowed Greeks from all over the world to come together and compete in sporting events. Additionally, honoring Zeus by sacrificing one-hundred oxen, worshipping, creating cakes, and giving gifts to other gods, show how incredibly religious the ancient Greeks were. In cultural accomplishments, when competitors are caught cheating in the Games, they were fined – this money is then used to build temples and statues of Zeus, showing the artistic side of Greeks as well. Statue of Zeus at Olympia Temple of Zeus (ancient)


Ruins of the Temple of Zeus :Ruins of the Temple of Zeus


The Persian War :The Persian War During the 5th century B.C., the Persian government attempted to expand their empire to the borders of Greece. The Greek colonies and city-states located on the Ionian coast then revolted against the Persian rule. In order to aid their allies, the Athenians sent troops to support the revolt. In 490 B.C.E., the Persian emperor, Darius, sought to punish the Athenians for interfering with his plan of conquering Greece. The Athenians and the Persian Army then fought at Marathon, Greece. Although the Athenians were greatly outnumbered, they fought off the Persian army, losing only 192 men out of 10,000, while the Persians lost 6,400 men out of 120,000.


Map of Ionia :Map of Ionia


Pythagoreans :Pythagoreans Pythagoras of Samos is a Greek philosopher who is best known for his developments in mathematics, music, and astronomy. He also established a religious and philosophic affiliation of followers in Croton, which is located in southern Italy; these followers are called the Pythagoreans. The affiliation was based on the teachings of Pythagoras, and was extremely secretive. In fact, Pythagoreans used the pentagram, or Hugieia, as “a sign of recognition,’ and the term Hugiaine, meaning “be sound” or “blessed” as a greeting or password. Hugieia was also said to be associated with health and healing by the Pythagoreans. Additionally, Pythagoreans believed that the soul would be reincarnated over and over again into a human, animal, or vegetable. Pythagoreans also used mathematics as a means to understand the universe.


Pythagoreans Cont. :Pythagoreans Cont. Ancient Pythagorean pentagram Pythagoras of Samos


References :References PBS.org. (n.d.).The Origin of the Olympic Games. Retrieved June 10, 2009, from http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/background/2a.html Olympia-Greece.org. (n.d.). Olympia, Greece. Retrieved June 10, 2009, from http://www.olympia-greece.org/ Lindemans, M. (2002). Hera. Retrieved June 9, 2009, from http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hera.html FJKLUTH.com. (n.d.). Ancient Greek Olympic Games and Women. Retrieved June 9, 2009, from http://www.fjkluth.com/olympic.html#Olym Sikyon.com (n.d.). The Persian Wars. Retrieved June 13, 2009, from http://www.sikyon.com/Athens/ahist_eg02.html Sophistes, A. (1999). The Pythagorean Pentacle. Retrieved June 15, 2009, from http://www.cs.utk.edu/~Mclennan/BA/PP/index.html Huffman, C. (2006). Pythagoras. Retrieved June 15, 2009, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pythagoras/#Pyt