Olympics Greek Style When Where The first Olympics
- Slides: 7
Olympics Greek Style
When & Where • • The first Olympics were in the year 776 BC. They were first held in a valley at the base of Mt. Olympus. The original games were held to honor the god Zeus. The games turned into a way to see which polis had the greatest warriors.
What were the games like? • The first Olympic event recorded was a 200 yard dash. A young cook named Coroebus of Elis won this event. • There were two types of a running events, fully armored and nude. • Some of the other events included spear throwing (javelin throw), wrestling, discus, long jump, boxing, chariot racing, and pankration • Very few team events.
Who could compete? • Only men where allowed to compete in the original games. • Women weren’t even allowed to watch the games. • One of the reasons was because the men competed in the nude. • Even though women were not allowed to compete, there was one woman that won an event. • HOW?
Who could this woman be? • A Spartan Woman of Course.
What did she win? • The woman won a chariot race. • No she did not compete, in the early Olympics not only did the athlete win, but so did the owner of the horse. • In fact, she didn’t even get to watch the race.
Winning! • Victors of the events received a crown of olive branches. • But more importantly, they were regarded as heroes in their cities. • In most polis’, the “hero” would be given a parade, and a new entrance would be made in the city’s wall. (except for Sparta, WHY? )
