lesson 7&8&9- The Olympic games Flashcards
who did the sanctuary of Olympia worship?
Primarily Zeus, and his wife Hera but also smaller deities and Heroes
what was the sanctuary enclosure known as?
The Atlis- this did not include the stadium or anything outside of the walls of the sanctuary
In what year were the Olympic Games founded?
traditionally believed to have been founded in 776 BC
In what year did the last recorded ancient Olympic Games take place?
395 AD
which god did the games honour?
The games were held in honour of zeus, the supreme god of mythology
what was the Atlis?
Zeus’ most sacred place- the enclosure of the sanctuary where all the religious buildings were held
who was Olympia under the authority of?
Elis
who provided the priests and priestesses and officials before the opening of the olympic games?
The Eleans
where was Olympia located?
situated in a fertile, grassy plain on the north bank of the broad river Alpheios.
where is most information about the olympic games found?
- on contemporary pottery as the Greeks decorated many vessels with aspects of daily life
- Coinage from city states depicting an athletic sport that they were particularly associated with- e.g the coinage from Philip II Macedon dated from 338 BC following his victory in the Olympic games
- a number of statues from Athletes- it was customary to record the achievements of successful athletes at the games
how was herakles linked to Olympia?
According to poet Pindar, Olympia was virtually created by Herakles- He laid out the boundaries of Atlis and instituted the first games in honour of Zeus.
What were the mythical origins of the Olympic Truce?
The traditional establishment of the Olympic games was 776 BC, but it was said that competitions appeared to have been held on an unofficial basis long before this-King Iphitos of Elis questioned the Delphic oracle on how to resolve the civil wars which were gradually destroying Greece. The priestess replied that he should restore the olympic games and declare a truce for their duration
How was news of the Truce spread before the beginning of the Games?
Three heralds decked with olive wreaths and carrying staffs were sent out from Elis to every Greek state. It was the herald’s duty to announce the exact date of the festival, to invite the inhabitants to attend and most important of all, to announce the olympic truce.
what was the point of the Olympic truce?
Duelling city states would declare a truce that agreed they would set their differences aside so that their athletes could take part in the Olympic games
What was the Greek name for the Truce-Bearers?
Spondophoroi
What did the Truce forbid, and why?
It forbade the states participating in the games to take up arms, to pursue legal disputes or carry out death penalties.
What argument does Swaddling put forward to justify holding the Games in August and September (the hottest time of the year in Greece)?
The Olympic games was celebrated once every four years in accordance with the Greek calendar, which was based on the lunar month. It was always timed so that the central day of the festival coincided with the second or third full moon after the summer solstice. It would also make sense to hold the games during a time when harvesting was at a stand still.
How long in duration were the Games?
lasted five days but preparations took virtually the whole year
what happened 10 months before the Olympic games?
The most important officials at the games, who were known as the Hellandikai (‘judges of the Greeks’) began preparations- One of the 10 acted as an overall supervisor whilst the other 9 were divided into three groups, each taking part over different events. The first group organised the equestrian events, the second the pentathlon and the third the remainder of the competitions.
what did the Olympic judges wear?
wore robes of purple, the royal colour serving as a reminder of the time when king Iphitos controlled the games and officiated as the sole judge.
what happened one month before the olympic games?
- At least one month before the olympic games the competitors were required to reside at Elis and train under strict supervision of the Hellanodikai- This period of compulsory training at Elis was enforced by the Eleans and probably to demonstrate their absolute control over the games.
- the local market place was striped and used as a practice track for the horses.
- During this month, the judges were fully occupied with various tasks, including disqualifying anyone who wasn’t fit, checking parentage and Greek descent, resolving any disputes concerning the classifications of men, boys, horses, and colts.
How many gymnasiums were there at Elis?
3 gymnasiums
what happened 2 days before the beginning of the festival?
- the whole company set out from Elis to Olympian First came the Hellanodikai and other officials, then the athletes and their trainers, horses and chariots together with their owners, jockeys and charioteers. They followed the sacred way along the coast, stopping to sacrifice a pig and to perform other religious rites along the way such as at the fountain of Piera and the boundary between Elis and Olympia. They spent the night at Letrinin and the next day wound their way along the valley of Alpheios towards the atlis.
Who attended the games?
Princes and tyrants from Sicily and southern Italy, ambassadors came from various towns. The rich came in horseback and in chariots, the poor come on donkeys, in carts and even on foot. Food sellers came loaded with supplies. Marchants flocked in with their wares. Artisans come to make figurines that pilgrims could buy to offer to a god.
where did the attendees sleep?
Tents and huts were erected, for only official delegates were given accommodation in the magnificent guest house known as the leonidaion. Most people slept out in the open without accommodation.
what was the stade (running)?
short foot race
what was the diaulos (running)?
A type of foot race which was named after the musical double pipes
what was the diolichos (running)?
A long distance race consisting of twenty or twenty four lengths. It was used as an opening event because it was the longest and least spectacular, and gave spectators a chance to settle down.
what was the hiplitodromos (running)?
‘Race in armour- this was the last of the foot races to be added to the olympics (in 520 BC) competitors wore a helmet and greaves and carried round a shield. Twenty-five runners were allowed to take part, for whom a set of shields were kept in the temple of zeus
what was the hippios (running) ?
horsey race
