Ancient Greek Sports midterm

Questions about the olympic games, and other sports related questions in ancient greek history.

What are the Ancient Olympic Games

Ancient sporting events held in Olympia, Greece, every four years, featuring various athletic competitions. They were dedicated to the god Zeus and marked a significant cultural and political unifier for the Greek city-states.

When did the games start

around 776 BC and for the next 14,000 years

When did the games end, why

in 393 AD, when they were abolished by the Romans, due to the rise of Christianity and the decline of pagan practices.

why are the olympic games the “best”

oldest games, gained a large audience

Physical descriptions - Gymnasium

Gymnos meaning “naked” because athletes trained nude - athletes like runners, jumpers/throwers would train

description - large open area, length of the stadium

Physical descriptions - Palaestra

Pale - wrestling - where the hand combat sports where trained, wresters, boxers

description - sandy soft floor courtyard

Physical descriptions - Sadion/Stadium

where the events would take place 

discription- 192 meters, dirt floor, start and finish line, hills surrounded for spectactors

Modern relevance

1. symbol of global unity 

2. culture exchange

3. economic impact 

Why are the games relevent today and in modern times

The games brought people together, they would be a great opportunity for economic growth, they also celebrate humans skill, and in ancient times dedicate their wins to the gods

Women in ancient times

1. women seen lesser than men

2. no education

3. no political influence

4. no finical opinion

5. cannot own land

6. no job (though they worked, didn’t get paid and cant claim they have a job)

7. cannot be out by herself, must have a male accompany her, if not fmaily when a male will walk in front of her with a lanturn or hand up notifying others theres a female present)

What age would women be married off

around 12, the male would be around 30, women did not have a choice

which women are the exceptions to the norms of ancient times

Women who’s families have money, high in politics etc

Names of those women exceptions

most well known Kyniska of Sparta, other Euryleonis of sparta (princess), Belistiche, Timareta and Theotata of Elis, Cassia kele. They all won olympic games, the horse riding chariot game

Outside of the games where women had excelled

Daughters of Polykrates of Argos: Zeuxo, Hermione, Enkrateia had immense wealth

Other successful women - Heraean Games

Hera Priestess, one event, stadian race shorted to 155m

Short definitions (races): Stadion

192 m sprint

Short definitions (races): Diaulos

double dash of the Stadion, 2×192m they turn around a single or multiple turning post to race to the finish

Short definitions (races): Dolichos

Endurance race, 18-24 laps around the track

Short definitions (races) : Hoplitodromos

Sprint race where athlete would hold a sheild, wear a helmet

Technical terms: Stadion

The track and feild of any athletic competiotion average length 200m width 27m

Technical terms: Valvides

The marble or stone slas covering the width of the track, having two grooves where athletes would place there feet in starting position

Technical terms: Aphesis

Starting line

Technical terms: Termatisomos

finishing line

Technical terms: Hysplex

Elaborate starting mechanism for the races

When did the Olympic games get revived

Games were revived around 1896, a man brought the idea of revival of the games to Paris, they were originally for the wealthy and men. First revival game was in Athens Greece. Later during the world war times, Germans brought in the spectacles of the games we have today. Later women was allowed to compete and eventually the games became the games we know today