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The Olympic Games

Home / The Olympic Games

Every four years the Olympic Games are held all over the world with the best athletes competing against one another to bring back the gold medal to their country. In ancient Greece, this was no different as Greek athletes from all over Greece came to Olympia to compete. What do you know about the Ancient Olympics?

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#1. When were the first Olympic Games held?

556 BC

556 BC

667 BC

667 BC

778 BC

778 BC

#2. Which sports did the pentathlon include?

Javelin throwing

Javelin throwing

Running

Running

Wrestling

Wrestling

Chariot racing

Chariot racing

Spear Throwing

Spear Throwing

Boxing

Boxing

Racing

Racing

#3. What is pankration?

A mixture of boxing and wrestling

A mixture of boxing and wrestling

Another name for boxing

Another name for boxing

Athletes wrestling with one another completely naked

Athletes wrestling with one another completely naked

#4. What did an Olympic winner receive?

A wreath made of olive branches

A wreath made of olive branches

A vase filled with oil

A vase filled with oil

Tax exemption and honours in their hometown

Tax exemption and honours in their hometown

All of the above

All of the above

#5. Which other Panhellenic Games Existed in Greece?

enter answer here

#6. The Olympic Games were abolished under the rule of which Roman Emperor?

Justinian

Justinian

Theodosius II

Theodosius II

Theodosius I

Theodosius I

Finish

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But we still love these stories! #history #greec

But we still love these stories!

#history #greece #greekhistory #archaeology #ancienthistory #ancientgreece #greekmythology #greekmyths #mythology

My favourite discovery lately has to be the existe

My favourite discovery lately has to be the existence of phallic charm rings from Ancient Rome. While today one might give you a weird look if you are wearing a ring with a phallus on it, in ancient Rome the phallus was a common symbol and was featured in all aspects of life. They could be seen at crossroads, at the entryway of private houses and even on rings.

The phallus represented strength, fertility and protection. Ring with this symbol on them would commonly ward off the evil eye or other witchcraft and bring good luck to the wearer. Children, in particular, were often given these amulets to wear around their necks to protect them from harm and ensure their safe growth and development. Made from a range of materials such as gold, silver or bronze, these rings were found all over the Roman Empire.

Would you wear a ring like this?

Pictures made by @roseberysauctioneers and rheumatologist Sussex Archaeological Society

#hellenistichistory #rome #roman #ancientrome #romanjewellery #romanrings #phallus #ancient #ancienthistory #history #historian #archaeology #archaeological #ancientjewellery #ancientsocieties #cultures #magic #superstition #romansuperstition

Bactria, once a flourishing part of the Achaemenid

Bactria, once a flourishing part of the Achaemenid Empire, became renowned after Alexander the Great’s conquests incorporated it into his vast territories. After Alexander’s death, Bactria fell under the Seleucid Empire before asserting its independence as the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom around the mid-3rd century BC. This independence marked the beginning of a significant cultural synthesis, as Greek and local influences melded, prominently showcased in Bactrian art and coinage.

A standout example of this is a silver tetradrachm minted under King Demetrius I around 200-185 BC. The coin, discovered on the island of Delos, features Demetrius in an elephant headdress, symbolizing his conquests in India and directly linking him to Alexander the Great, who also adopted similar imagery to signify his victories. The reverse of the coin typically showcases Herakles, connecting the king to divine heroism—a common theme in Hellenistic royal iconography.

#moneymonday #moneymondays #history #coin #coins #history #hellenistic #hellenistichistory #hellenistic #pontus #mithradates #ancienthistory #archaeology #numismatics #hellenisticcoins #hellenistickings #kings #bactriankings #ancient #ancientegypt #archaeology #numismatic

The story of Rome’s beginning blends fact with m

The story of Rome’s beginning blends fact with myth. It started as a collection of hilltop villages, coming together around the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age. Humans had been in Italy for tens of thousands of years, with Rome itself getting settled by 1600 BC. Early evidence, like a developed burial site by 1000 BC, shows these areas were inhabited long before Rome became a city. By the late 8th century BC, these villages united, possibly inspired by the city-states in Greece.

Roman legends give a more dramatic origin, telling of Romulus and Remus, twins born to a war god and a princess, who were raised by a she-wolf. Romulus, after a fatal disagreement with Remus, founded Rome. This tale, while cherished, is seen by modern historians as more symbolic than historical, with no real evidence linking Rome to the cities of Alba or Troy from the story.

The city’s founding was celebrated annually on April 21, with the Parilia Festival, which over time became the Romaea. As for Rome’s founding year, historians mostly agree on 753 BC, despite some debate and known inaccuracies in ancient calculations. This date has stuck and is widely used today to mark the beginning of Rome’s story.

#history #onthisday #rome #romanhistory #foundation #romanhistory #archaeology #foundationofrome #romulus #romulusandremus #historyvsmyth #ancientrome #onthisdayinhistory

A marble bust of Alexander the Great, dated to 100

A marble bust of Alexander the Great, dated to 100 BC, originates from the island of Delos. It is thought to have been part of a larger draped statue, assembled using techniques typical of the Cycladic region during the Hellenistic period (330-30 BC). The distinctive hairstyle of the bust helps identify it as a highly idealized posthumous portrait of Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). Interestingly, this work was once attributed to the same sculptor responsible for the Venus de Milo, highlighting its artistic significance and the high regard for its craftsmanship.

Alexander’s profound impact on the cultures he encountered is also reflected in his practice of founding cities, many of which he named after himself. The most famous of these is Alexandria in Egypt, which became a center of Hellenistic culture and learning. This tradition of city-founding not only spread Greek culture throughout the known world but also established lasting centers of administration and trade.

.#history #alexanderthegreat #ancientgreece #hellenistic #hellenistichistory #delos #ancient #ancienthistory #historicalcivilisations #archaeology #archaeologist

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