OlympicsOlympicsGreek StyleGreek Style

When & WhereWhen & Where

• The first Olympics were The first Olympics were in the year 776 BC.in the year 776 BC.

• They were first held in They were first held in a valley at the base of a valley at the base of Mt. Olympus.Mt. Olympus.

• The original games The original games were held to honor the were held to honor the god Zeus.god Zeus.

• The games turned into The games turned into a way to see which a way to see which polis had the greatest polis had the greatest warriors.warriors.

What were the games What were the games like?like?

• The first Olympic event The first Olympic event recorded was a 200 yard recorded was a 200 yard dash. A young cook dash. A young cook named Coroebus of Elis named Coroebus of Elis won this event.won this event.

• There were two types of a There were two types of a running events, fully running events, fully armored and nude.armored and nude.

• Some of the other events Some of the other events included spear throwing included spear throwing (javelin throw), wrestling, (javelin throw), wrestling, discus, long jump, boxing, discus, long jump, boxing, chariot racing, and chariot racing, and pankrationpankration

• Very few team events.Very few team events.

Who could compete?Who could compete?

• Only men where allowed to compete in the Only men where allowed to compete in the original games.original games.

• Women weren’t even allowed to watch the Women weren’t even allowed to watch the games.games.

• One of the reasons was because the men One of the reasons was because the men competed in the nude.competed in the nude.

• Even though women were not allowed to Even though women were not allowed to compete, there was one woman that won compete, there was one woman that won an event.an event.

• HOW?HOW?

Who could this woman Who could this woman be?be?

•A Spartan A Spartan Woman of Woman of Course. Course.

What did she win?What did she win?

• The woman won a chariot race.The woman won a chariot race.• No she did not compete, in the early No she did not compete, in the early

Olympics not only did the athlete Olympics not only did the athlete win, but so did the owner of the win, but so did the owner of the horse.horse.

• In fact, she didn’t even get to watch In fact, she didn’t even get to watch the race.the race.

Winning!Winning!

• Victors of the events Victors of the events received a crown of received a crown of olive branches.olive branches.

• But more importantly, But more importantly, they were regarded as they were regarded as heroes in their cities.heroes in their cities.

• In most polis’, the In most polis’, the “hero” would be given a “hero” would be given a parade, and a new parade, and a new entrance would be made entrance would be made in the city’s wall. in the city’s wall. (except for Sparta, (except for Sparta, WHY?)WHY?)