Introduction to the Ancient World: Greece

Lecture 24

The Ancient Olympic Games 

I. The Olympics and modern misconceptions:

Pierre de Coubertin and the revival of the Olympic Games (Athens 1896); Jim Thorpe(1912) and the pre-Dream Team myth of the aristocratic amateurs vs. Greek realities

II. Olympia - the Site 

Temple of Zeus, Phidias' statue (one of 7 wonders of the world); Temple of Hera; Stadium (1 stadion = 194 yards), Hippodrome, Gymnasium, Palaistra 

III. The Program (cf. Amos and Lang p. 85) 

Elis; Hellenodikai; hoplitodromos; first prizes only
Olympic fun and games: wrestling, boxing, pankration 


Please note: Office hours today will be from 3:00-4:30pm.

Lecture 23/24 Images


modified Mar. 29, 2005
s_davies@mail.utexas.edu