Exam 1 Ancient Greek Terms

agon

A contest or competition, especially an athletic or musical competition in ancient Greece

altar

A place where sacrifices and offerings were made to a god; usually located near a temple

athlete

A person who competes in athletic contests

bull leaping

A Minoan activity in which participants jumped over or performed acrobatics on a charging bull

central court

The large open courtyard at the center of a Minoan palace, used for gatherings, ceremonies, and activities

Delphi, Pythian games

A major Panhellenic festival held at Delphi in honor of Apollo, featuring athletic, musical, and artistic competitions

ephebe

A young Greek male, usually around 18-20 years old, undergoing military and civic training

ephebarch

An official responsible for supervising and educating ephebes

extraurban sanctuary

A religious sanctuary located outside the city, often associated with a particular god or regional community

gymnasium (palaestra)

A place where young men trained physically; the palaestra was specifically an area for wrestling and other exercise

gymnasiarch

An official responsible for overseeing a gymnasium and its activities

gymnastes, paidotribes

Gymnastes was a professional athletic trainer; paidotribes was a physical trainer who taught and supervised athletes

gymnic competition

An athletic competition involving physical events such as running, wrestling, boxing, or the pentathlon

Hellanodikai

Judges at the Olympic Games who supervised competitions, enforced rules, and determined winners

Heracles

A Greek hero associated with strength and athleticism; traditionally credited with founding the Olympic Games

heroon

A shrine or monument dedicated to a hero, often associated with the hero's tomb or supposed burial place

hippic competition

Horse and chariot competitions held as part of ancient Greek athletic festivals

hippodrome

A large open area used for horse and chariot races

interurban sanctuary

A sanctuary located between or outside cities that served multiple communities

Isthmia, Isthmian games

A Panhellenic festival held at the Isthmus of Corinth in honor of Poseidon, featuring athletic and musical competitions

megaron

A large rectangular room with a central hearth, especially associated with Mycenaean palaces

musical competition

A contest involving music, singing, poetry, or other artistic performances

naos

The main inner room of a Greek temple where the statue of the god was located

Nemea, Nemean games

A Panhellenic athletic festival held at Nemea in honor of Zeus

nudity

The practice of Greek male athletes competing without clothing, especially in athletic contests

Olympia, Olympic games

A major Panhellenic festival held at Olympia in honor of Zeus, featuring athletic competitions

palatial settlements

Large Bronze Age settlements centered around palaces that served as political, economic, religious, and administrative centers

Panathenaia

Athenian festival held in honor of Athena that included religious ceremonies, athletic contests, musical competitions, and a major procession

panhellenic game

A major athletic festival open to competitors from across the Greek world, such as the Olympic, Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean Games

pentathlon

An athletic competition consisting of five events: discus, javelin, long jump, stadion race, and wrestling

polis

A Greek city-state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory and community

prizes

Awards given to winners of ancient Greek competitions, such as crowns, money, or valuable objects

stadium (dromos)

The running track or racecourse used for foot races; the dromos was the running event itself

strigil

A curved metal tool used by Greek athletes to scrape oil, sweat, and dirt from their bodies after exercise

stoa

A long covered walkway or building with columns, often used for gathering, shopping, or public activities

temenos

A sacred area set apart for a god, usually surrounding a sanctuary or temple

theater

A place where plays, performances, and sometimes religious events were held, usually with rows of seats surrounding a performance area

treasury

A small building used by a city or group to store valuable offerings at a major sanctuary

truce (ekecheira)

A sacred agreement to temporarily stop warfare so athletes and spectators could safely travel to and participate in the Panhellenic Games

votive

An object or offering dedicated to a god, often left at a sanctuary as a religious gift

xenia

The ancient Greek tradition of hospitality and guest-friendship between hosts and visitors

zanes

Statues of Zeus paid for with fines from athletes who cheated at the Olympic Games, placed as warnings to others