games of games of written by george lewis Games of Honor, Games of Glory: The Panhellenic Games Author: George Lewis ISBN Print: 978-1-63260-402-6 ePub: 978-1-63260-403-3 Copyright © 2013 SNAP! Learning® 4325 N. Golden State Blvd. #102 Fresno, Ca 93722 855.200.SNAP www.snaplearning.net ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................. 4-5 The Olympic Games ......................................................................................................... 6 Milo of Croton .............................................................................................................. 7-8 The Zanes of Olympia ................................................................................................. 9-13 References .................................................................................................................... 14 Quick Writes .............................................................................................................15-17 Research Integrate and Synthesize ................................................................................. 18 Vocabulary .................................................................................................................... 19 Oral Reading Fluency Chart ............................................................................................ 20 Book Check ...............................................................................................................21-22 Introduction TURKEY GREECE SICILY Aegean Sea Delphi TURKEY MEDITERRANEAN SEA Corinth MEDITERRANEAN SEA Athens Nemea EGYPT THE MEDITERRANEAN Olympia PELOPONNESE Isthmia Mediterranean Sea © d-maps.com 1 ou say you want to be an Olympic champion. But wait. Think about what is involved…. Y You will have to hand your body over to your coach just as you would to a doctor. You will have to obey every instruction. You will have to give up sweet desserts, and eat only at fixed times, take exercise, no matter how hot or cold the weather. You will be forbidden to drink chilled water. Even wine will be limited. Then, in all the contests, you must gouge and be gouged. There will be times that you will sprain a wrist, twist your ankle, swallow mouthfuls of sand and be flogged. And even after all that, you will probably lose! Epictetus Greek Philosopher 2 The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 B.C. and oc- only from Greece. Athletes could also venture forth from curred every four years until 394 A.D. when they were the Greek colonies, from Asia Minor to Spain, to compete banned as a pagan ritual by the Roman emperor Theodo- in all four games representing their polis, or city-state. Of sius I. Each Olympics started a four-year cycle called an course, because travel to and from the Games was often Olympiad. However, over the course of an Olympiad, there expensive, the competitors were generally wealthy. were three other games besides the Olympics. Collectively, these four games are known as the Panhellenic Games and The Panhellenic Games were stephanitic, meaning that 4 each one was held to honor a specific god. the victors received only a garland, or crown, for their achievement. Unlike other Games in Greece, such as the 3 Besides the Olympic Games, the other three games that Panatheniac Games, there was no monetary or material took place during an Olympiad were the Pythian Games, award granted. In theory, the competitors competed only the Nemean Games, and the Isthmian Games. The Pan- for honor and glory. hellenic Games were open to Greek males, who generally competed in the nude. However, the participants were not 4 5 The Pythian Games Over time, the Pythian Games included both athletic and artistic competitions in music, theater arts, and painting. The Nemean Games Besides the traditional athletic events, there also was a competition in music. The Isthmian Games In addition to the usual schedule of athletic events found in the Olympic Games, there were also competitions in both music and poetry. At these events women were apparently allowed to compete. The Panhellenic Games GAMES STARTING LOCATION GOD CROWN OLYMPIAD DATE HONORED YEAR Olive Olympics 776 B.C. Olympia Zeus 1st Branch Pythian 582 B.C. Delphi Apollo Laurel 3rd Wild 2nd Nemean 6th Century Nemea Zeus B.C. Celery and 4th 6th Century Pine 2nd Isthmian Corinth Poseidon B.C. Leaves and 4th 6 What was the significance of these four Games to the While the victors received no financial reward at the 10 Greeks? Games, champions became extremely important figures in their homeland. The glory garnered by the winner often 7 Certainly, all of the Panhellenic Games were of an enor- brought reflected glory to his fellow citizens. mous importance to the Greeks. For example, a sacred trust was proclaimed prior to, during, and following each Therefore, upon their return to the homeland, the winners 11 of the Games. For the safety of the athletes and the specta- were given the status of a hero and received numerous tors traveling to and from the competitions, all warfare was honors. Frequently, victors became influential politicians completely halted. and gained the right to have a statue erected in his honor. In short, though the crown of leaves was but a modest 8 The Games also had a noteworthy religious significance, reward for the contestants’ hard work and ultimate victory, in that each was dedicated to a powerful god. It was com- it symbolized a guarantee to the victor that a life of honor monly understood that a victory in the various Panhellenic and glory would follow. Games was attributed as a gift from the gods. 9 What about the individual athlete? What did a victory mean for him? 5 The Olympic Games Chariot race. Shoulder of an Attic black-figure hydria, used for carrying water. Photo: Marie-Lan Nruyen Photo: 12 At first, the Olympic Games lasted a single day, but the Other non-running events also were included. Competi- 14 Games eventually were lengthened to five days. Compe- tive bouts in boxing, wrestling, and pankration, a brutal titions were held in two primary venues. Athletic events combination of boxing and wrestling, were an integral part took place in the stadium and equestrian events in the hip- of the Games. In all three, each contest continued until one podrome. The original Olympic event was the stadion or of the contestants raised a finger, signifying his surrender. stade race. This race was a sprint equal to the length of the A pentathlon, or a single event consisting of five different stadium, between 180 and 240 meters. elements, also was very important. The sports comprising the pentathlon were wrestling, a stade race, long jump, 13 Over time, other races were added to the program of javelin throw, and discus throw. events. The double stadium or two-stade race was called the dialous. The dialous was added in 724 B.C. In 720 B.C., The equestrian events were unique in that women were 15 a third race was included, the dolichos. This race was of allowed a place in the competitions. They were not allowed a longer distance, contested over the Olympic grounds, to ride, however, they could be the owner of a horse or and often passing by the statue of Nike, the messenger of chariot. The winners of the equestrian events were the victory, standing by the temple of Zeus. The hiplitodro- owners, not the riders and chariot drivers. The equestrian mos, or race-in-arms, was the final running event incorpo- competitions included a four-horse chariot race, a two- rated into the program in 520 B.C. The race-in-arms was horse chariot race, and a horseback race. a two-stade race in which the runners wore a helmet and carried a shield. 6 Milo of Croton Bronze copy of a Pankration fight scultpure (3rd Century B.C.) Photo: Matthias Kabel Matthias Photo: 16 One of the most accomplished athletes competing in the So dominant was Milo, that he was bestowed with the title 17 Panhellenic Games was Milo of Croton. During the Olym- of Periodonikēs five times. A Periodonikēs was an athlete pics of 540 B.C., when he was ten years of age, Milo won the who, during the same Olympiad, won competitions at all first of his many titles, this one in boys’ wrestling. He went four of the Panhellenic Games. on to emerge victorious in the wrestling competitions of five subsequent Olympics. Besides his Olympic victories, Milo was finally defeated in 516 B.C. at Olympia by an op- 18 Milo also won seven crowns at the Pythian Games, ten at ponent from his hometown of Croton, a Grecian city in the Isthmian Games, and nine at the Nemean Games. southern Italy. The young man conquered the aging Milo by using the innovative technique of arkrocheirismos, which allowed him to wrestle at arm’s length and avoid the crushing embrace of the older man, causing Milo to fatigue rapidly. Terracotta pottery attributed to the Theseus Painter depicting two pankratiasts fighting while a trainer Photo: Marie-Lan Nruyen Photo: and observer watch. 7 Milo of Croton (continued) As befits the status of a legendary hero, Milo’s death was 21 asserted to