Ancient olympics

Question 1

Athletic events took place in different city-states in ancient Greece e.g Delphi but which city-state was the most important?

Answer 1

Olympia in the city-state of Ellis

Question 2

How long did The Ancient Olympic Games last?

Answer 2

776B.C. – 393 A.D.

Question 3

Where was the permanent home of the ancient games?

Answer 3

Olympia

Question 4

How often were the games?

Answer 4

held every four years… or once every Olympiad

Question 5

What was the truce of the ancient games?

Answer 5

. A truce from regional hostilities.
. Provided opportunity to meet on neutral and sacred ground.
. City states were expected not to start wars during the games.
. anyone travelling should be protected
. fines and death sentences given to those who broke truce

Question 6

What was the Altar of Zeus in Olympia (ancient Olympic villlage) ?

Answer 6

Made up of ash from burnt animal sacrifices and river sediment-olympic calderon of modern games represent the Altar

Question 7

What was the palaestra in Olympia (ancient Olympic villlage) ?

Answer 7

Gym and indoor practice for athletes

Question 8

What was the Leanidaion in Olympia (ancient Olympic villlage) ?

Answer 8

The athlete accomodation

Question 9

What was a significant feature of the ancient olympic games?

Answer 9

the relationship between religion and sport was a significant feature of the Ancient Olympic Games

Question 10

What did olympic athletes have to be?

Answer 10

. male
. citizens or pure greek parentage
. honourable-no crime, wholesome individual
. trained under local supervision for almost a year in order to pass admission test for the games
. deemed ‘worthy’ to compete
. naked was customary but not compulsory

Question 11

What was the ancient Olympic ‘programme’?

Answer 11

eventually expanded a 5 day programme:
. Religious sacrifice and ceremony
. running events- stade, diaulos, dolichos
. wrestling
. boxing- gloves with metal, no weight restrictions
. Pankration- everything was legal bar eye gauging, strangling encouraged,
. Hoplitodromos- race of soldiers
. horse and chariot race
. pentathlon

Question 12

What was the importance of winning?

Answer 12

. Winning meant everything-Ancient Greeks worshipped success – no 2nd or 3rd place
. Victors at Olympia were given an olive wreath
. Further rewards were received upon returning home-tax immunity, priesthood

Question 13

What parallels are there between ancient athletes and modern athletes in terms of motivation?

Answer 13

. winning
. money
. fame

Question 14

Why were the games such an attraction for both the athlete and spectator? and some draw backs

Answer 14

. truce gave travelling spectators protection
. artists and muscicians were common place
. food and merchandise were sold
. poor sleeping conditions and uncomfortbale stadia in hot sun
. spectators had to walk long distances e.g athens to olympia would take 2 1/4 days walk no rest

Question 15

What caused the demise of the ancient Olympic games?

Answer 15

. Rise of the Roman empire
- reduced Greek values
. Rise of Christianity
- In 393, the Christian emperor, Theodosius I, abolished the Olympic Games

Question 16

What aspects of the Games put into question the Olympic ideals ?

Answer 16

. Limited chivalry-no women
. question of whether the truce stopped wars
. attempted performance enhancement with potions and lizard flesh
. corruption and match fixing