Transcript THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS 776 BC - 393 AD

THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
776 BC - 393 AD
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• TOUR: Introduction
– Olympia: site of ancient Olympic games.
• Green. Lush area.
• Sanctuary of Zeus was located here.
– Greeks gathered here for over 1000 years to
celebrate this great festival.
– Heracles (Hercules) mythical founder of
Olympic games.
– Games dedicated to Zeus
– Victor received a simple crown of wild olive.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The Greeks referred to sanctuary of Zeus as the Altis.
From the Greek word Alsos for grove.
• Sanctuaries were centers of worship. Greeks built
temples, altars, treasuries on these sites.
Aerial view of sanctuary
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The Crown:
– Crowns were made from a wild olive tree in the Altis.
– This tree was called the olive of the beautiful crown.
– Olive oil was the most exported product of Greece.
• (Hercules gets credit for introducing the Olive tree to Greece)
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Early Buildings:
– The earliest building at
Olympia are a cluster of
Bronze Age houses at the
base of the Kronos hill.
– One of these buildings was
supposed to be the
megaron of Oinomaos,
legendary king.
– Another structure is the
tumulus of Pelops.
(tumulos is a large artificial
mound built over a grave)
View of Kronos Hill
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The Chariot Race:
According to legend, the hero Pelops entered a chariot race with King Oinomaos to compete for the hand of
Oinomaos' daughter Hippodamia in marriage. Hippodamia fell in love with Pelops and convinced her father's
groom to sabotage the racing chariot by removing the linchpins attaching the wheels. After Oinomaos' chariot
was destroyed and he was dragged to his death by his horses, Pelops became king and ruled over the region,
which he called the Peloponnese after himself. Today, the southern part of the Greek mainland is still called by
this name.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Scenes from this race decorated the temple of
Zeus, built between 470-457 BC.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The First Temple:
– 1st Temple: 7th BC, was dedicated to Zeus
and Hera. Originally of wood but gradually
replaced in stone.
– West end of the cella (internal chamber) were
sculptures of Zeus and Hera. Head of Hera
has been recovered.
– Eventually, this became a temple to honor
Hera only.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Temple of Hera:
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Temple of Hera:
– Built in a system of regular
proportions. So that many parts
relate to others harmoniously.
– Width to length ratio: 3:8
– # of pillars seen from front and
back: 6.
– # of pillars seen from the sides:
16.
– Height of columns, half the width
of the cella.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Temple of Hera:
– Uncovered:
• Cedar chest inlaid with ivory and gold.
• Bronze disc.
• Ivory and gold table: where the olive crowns were set out.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The Treasuries:
– On a terrace at the base of Mount Kronos.
– poorly preserved built in the sixth century.
– Built by different Greek city-states from 600’s
BC
--The best preserved is the Treasury of Sikyon.
--Served as storehouses for valuable
objects.
--Many gave to Olympia as a sign
of piety and to win the gods’ favor
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The Sikyonian Treasury:
• two chambers lined with bronze.
• the sword of the hero Pelops, with a hilt of gold; an ivory horn inscribed
to Olympian Zeus; and a wooden statue of Apollo with its head plated in
gold.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• The Treasuries:
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Temple of Zeus:
– completed in 456 BC
– was one of the largest
temples in Greece.
– Doric style architecture
– Columns: simple capitals,
no bases, and heavy
proportions.
– six columns on each end,
thirteen on the flanks
– built entirely of local shell
limestone
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Temple of Zeus:
– The sculptures are the best preserved.
• East Pediment: prep for chariot race between Oinomaos and
Pelops.
• West Pediment depicts battle between Lapiths and Centaurs
– It was a peripteral temple: inner chamber was
surrounded by a columned porch.
– first significant monument of the Early Classical
period.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Temple of Zeus:
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Stadium and Events:
– First Olympic event was a
foot race. (only event for 1st
13 olympics)
– By Classic Period: 18 more
contests including:
Wrestling, boxing, horse
races, pentathlon, other
running events.
– Stadium was outside the
area of the sanctuary.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Stadium and Events:
– A vaulted passageway
connected sanctuary
to stadium.
– Only a few stone seats
for officials.
The Ancient Olympics
• Stadium: The track is
212.54 m (697.3 ft) long and 28.5
m (94 ft) wide and surrounded by
grassy banks on all sides. All the
seats were made of mud and on
the southern slope there was a
stone platform
The Stadium
The “Exedra” or judges seats
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Facilities for Athletes:
• Palaestra: west of sanctuary. Place for boxers and wrestlers to train.
• Gymnasium: north of palaestra.
• Southwest of Altis was the Leonidaion, hotel.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Facilities for Athletes: Palaestra.
The Ancient Olympics
• Leonidaion: lodging place for
athletes taking part in the Olympic
Games at Olympia
– constructed around 330 BCE and was funded
and designed by Leonidas of Naxos.
– The building consisted of four Ionian
colonnades with 138 decorated columns,
forming a square of approximately 80 meters.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Workshop:
– Sculpture Pheidias.
– It is where a statue of Zeus
was made.
– Plan of this building matches
that of the cella of the temple.
– Molds and tools for making the
sculpture were discovered
here.
– A cup bearing his name was
also found here.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC
EVENTS:
– Boxing:
• Fewer rules
• No rounds: fought until
a K.O.
– Or one man gave up.
• Could hit opponent
when down.
• No weight classes
• Men and boys divisions.
• No gloves but
himantes: leather wraps
himantes
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC
EVENTS:
– Equestrian Events:
• Chariot Racing:
– 2 and 4 horse chariot
races
– 12 lap length (9mi.)
• Riding:
– Separate races for full
grown horses and foals
– 6 lap length (4.5 mi.)
– Only wealthy could
afford the event
» Owner received
wreath for winning.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• Equestrian Races:
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC
EVENTS:
– Pentathlon:
• 5 event challenge
• Discus, javelin, running,
jumping, wrestling
– Discus:
• made of stone, iron,
bronze or lead.
• Shaped like a saucer.
• Size of discus varied
according to boys and
men’s division.
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC
EVENTS:
– Javelin:
• Man size length of wood.
• End: sharpened or
attached metal.
• Looks like a spear.
• Leather strap attached for
grip
– Increased precision and
distance
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC
EVENTS:
– Jump:
• Jumpers used lead or
stone weights
– Shaped like phone
receivers (halteres)
– Increased distance
– Held in front during
ascent
– Brought behind and
dropped during descent.
– Doubled as weight lifting
during training
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS:
– Running: 4 types of races
• Stadion: oldest event. Sprint
one stade.
– Length of the stadium (192
m.)
• 2 stade race (384 m.)
• Long distance run, 7-24
stades.
– (1,344m-4,608m.)
• Armor race: 2-4 stades (384768m).
– Ran in armor.
– Helped train warriors.
– Armor: 50-60 lbs. (helmet,
greaves, shield)
THE ANCIENT OLYMPICS
• ANCIENT OLYMPIC
EVENTS:
– Wrestling:
• Needed to throw opponent
on hip, shoulder or back
for fall.
• 3 throws needed to win a
match.
• Biting not allowed
• One could break
opponents fingers.