The Artios Home Companion Series Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Teacher Overview In many of our units, we have discussed how God is in control of the rise and fall of nations and of those nation's leaders. This unit is another example. The rise of Greece and the decades that it flourished gave much to the development of culture and philosophy. The Greeks were responsible for the start of the ancient Olympic Games. Originally started to honor their god, Zeus, they fostered competition in wrestling, running, discus and more. Winners in the Olympic Games were treated as our modern day celebrities are treated. The apostle Paul refers to Greek culture in his writings. However, it is important to note that Paul warned about being conformed to the world's culture and thinking when it ran contrary to God's Truth. Being in the world, but yet sent to the world to be salt and light is a difficult challenge for the Christian. As we read about Alexander the Great we will see once again many things that contrast and even stand opposed to God's Truth. Ultimately, God was the one in control of the rise and the fall of the ancient Greeks as He continued to weave His tapestry of history together to demonstrate his Truth to all nations. An artist's impression of ancient Olympia Reading and Assignments In this unit, students will: Complete two lessons in which they will learn about the Olympic Games and Alexander the Great, journaling and answering discussion questions as they read. Define a vocabulary word. Visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Ancient: High School Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Page 367 Leading Ideas In Acts 17, Paul gives a sermon that makes it evident that he understood Greek philosophy. However, he did not stay there in his conversation. He presented the gospel to them. This is a great demonstration of not being “of the world” but being “sent into” the world. — Acts 17 (Read this chapter in ESV at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17&version=ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:2 Key People, Places, and Events Vocabulary Phillip of Macedonia Lesson 1: Alexander the Great pentathlon Alexandria Lesson 2: none Ancient: High School Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Page 368 L e s s o n O n e History Overview and Assignments Measuring Time by Games Reading and Assignments Review the discussion questions and vocabulary, then read the article: The Olympic Games. Narrate about today’s reading using the appropriate notebook page. Be sure to answer the discussion questions and include key people, events, and dates within the narration. Define the vocabulary word in the context of the reading and put the word and its definition in the vocabulary section of your history notebook. For additional resources be sure to visit www.ArtiosHCS.com. Vocabulary pentathlon Discussion Questions 1. Why were the Olympic Games held? 2. How often were they held? 3. Were women allowed to participate in the games? Be specific. Ancient list on Papyrus 1185 of Olympic victors of 4. Describe the running events found at the the 75th to the 78th, and from the 81st to the 83rd Olympiads (480–468 BC, 456–448 BC). Thirteen games. events listed: stadion run, wrestling, boxing 5. Describe the combative events at the [these three also for boys], two stadia run, dolichos games. (2000 metres), pentathlon, pancration, hoplite run in armour, four horse chariot race, horse-riding. 6. What was a pentathlon? 7. How was an Olympic winner honored? 8. What type of politics took place at the Olympic Games? Ancient: High School Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Page 369 Adapted for High School from the book: Ancient Civilizations source: ushistory.org The Olympic Games Olympic Games took place for hundreds of years before then. The last ancient games were held in 394 A.D. Then the Romans, who had conquered the Greeks, outlawed them. The modern Olympic Games began in 1896. The Competitors In the beginning, the participants in the Olympic Games were all men. Women were not allowed to compete or even to watch. Over time, the Greeks held a festival of games to honor the goddess Hera, Zeus’s wife. Only unmarried women could participate in the competitions, which consisted mainly of foot races. Eventually, women were able to participate in and attend the Olympic Games. Myron’s Discobolos (Discus Thrower) shows the Greek emphasis on the beauty of the human form. Roman bronze reduction of Myron's Discobolus, 2nd century AD (Glyptothek, Munich), published by Wikimedia user Rotatebot under the GNU Free Documentation License The ancient Greeks loved competition of all sorts. Each year, the various city-states of Greece sent athletes to festivals of games, which were held to honor the gods. The most important and prestigious The discus was one of the original events in the ancient were the games held at Olympia to honor Olympic Games. Each thrower used the same discus for Zeus, the king of the gods. These Olympic the competition—a copper one which was kept in Olympia. Games took place in the summer only once every four years. Contestants could compete in many The earliest recorded Olympics occurred different events. Athletes were completely in 776 B.C. It is very likely, however, that naked and covered in oil as they competed. Ancient: High School Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Page 370 First, there were the four types of running a combination of five different events. Each events. Distances covered include 192 contestant threw the javelin, did the long meters (the length of the stadium), 384 jump, wrestled, ran a foot race, and threw meters and a long-distance run of anywhere the discus. The person who had the best between 1,344 and 4,608 meters. overall effort in all these five events was In the most demanding event runners declared the winner. raced between 384-768 meters—in an armor outfit that weighed between 50 and War and Peace 70 pounds! At the Olympics, the winners received Then, there were the combative events, wreaths made of olive leaves. Over time, boxing and wrestling. Boxers wrapped their more and more prizes were added such as a hands in leather and metal, making the bronze tripod or olive oil. Winners received contests brutal and bloody. The object in even greater rewards when they returned to wrestling was to touch the opponent’s their home city-states. shoulders to the ground. All these skills were considered important for military training. In the Olympic event of the pankration—a brutal mix of boxing and wrestling with almost no rules—the combatants literally fought tooth and nail. © Copyright 1996-2000, Channel 1 Communications® Wrestling in the ancient Olympics was an honorable but extremely difficult sport in which to compete. Triumphant athletes were given not only In addition to have no weight classes (the bigger the large monetary awards, but also free meals better!) there was no stopping the match until for the rest of their lives. The citizens and one man could be declared triakter (victor). This is a miniature replica of a Roman marble leaders of the city-state took great pride in statue, currently in the Uffizi Gallery in Italy, their athletes and publicized their photograph of which is released by Matthias Kabel accomplishments far and wide. under the GNU Free Documentation License During the Olympics, leaders from the Next, there were the equestrian events, various city-states discussed important which involved horses and sometimes political and economic matters. In the chariots and took place in a separate arena ancient world, major leaders rarely met the called the hippodrome. same place at the same time. As the games Finally, there was the most prestigious approached, everyone generally agreed to and important of all events: the pentathlon, an Olympic truce, a time when warfare Ancient: High School Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Page 371 usually ceased. Athletes and spectators were In 2004, the Summer Games returned to granted immunity to travel to and from the their original birthplace of Athens, Greece. games. L e s s o n T w o History Overview and Assignments A Flawed Legacy Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great, by Charles Laplante, 1866 Reading and Assignments Review the discussion questions, then read the article: Alexander the Great. Narrate about today’s reading using the appropriate notebook page. Be sure to answer the discussion questions and include key people, events, and dates within the narration. Be sure to visit www.ArtiosHCS.com for additional resources. Ancient: High School Unit 22: Let the Games Begin Page 372 Key People, Places, and Events Phillip of Macedonia Alexander the Great Alexandria Discussion Questions 1. Where was the kingdom of Macedon located? 2. How did King Phillip unite Greece? 3. Why do you think Phillip wanted to conquer Persia? 4. How did Phillip die? 5. Who ruled after Phillip’s death? 6. Why was the conquering of Persia a moment of sweet revenge for the Greeks? 7. What city did Alexander found in Egypt? 8. How did Alexander die? 9. Describe the legacy of Alexander the Great. Adapted for High School from the book: Ancient Civilizations source: ushistory.org Alexander the Great Was Alexander the Great really great? A great conqueror, in 13 short years he amassed the largest empire in the entire ancient world—an empire that covered 3,000 miles.