Gemma+and+Kritika

__Ancient Greece Olympic Games__ By: Gemma Cantone and Kritika Goyal

The first Olympic games of ancient Greece were held around 775 B.C. These games were held every four years and at four different shrines. City-states would stop fighting so that they can go play in these ancient games. The games lasted for one week and on the first day they had opening ceremonies and sacrifices. When all of these games were done they had a victory banquet for all of the winning athletes. At the fifth century B.C. there was eight events for the adults and there were three events for the children. Each events were individuals. If anyone was caught cheating, they would have to pay a fine. The fines went to the building of the statues of the god Zeus. There were 16 statues built that year. The games were held from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. Games were stopped by Theodosius I. Events were not held for 1503 years. They then started up again in 1896. At this time, 34 more countries had been involved.

Events: **Running** -Both adults and children could do this. Did you know that the shortest race in the ancient Olympics was somewhere around 200 yards? This distance was called the stade. **Hoplite** -A foot race that had the contestants wearing full armor. The armor weighed 50 pounds.Later on the racers would were only a helmet and carried a shield.This game could be played by both adults and children **Pugme** - Pugme is also known as boxing.The boxers had to were pieces of leather that was tied around their hands and wrists leaving their fingers free,this was called himantes.The contestants boxed until they were knocked down or they admitted defeat. **Pale(wrestling-** The game starts off with both players were in a standing position,they would play till on of the winners accepted defeat or gave up. It was acceptable to break a persons finger(s). **Pankration** - This game was to be played by adults only. Pankration is the combination of boxing and wrestling. To make a point you throw your opponent to the floor.You would have to score three points to win. You were not allowed to puncture the eyes,nose,or mouth,with fingernails. Some other Olympic games are the pentathlon,long jump,the discus,javelin,horse racing,and the four-chariot races.

Bibliography: [|www.library.thinkquest.org] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|www.woodlands.com] [|www.perseus.tafts/olympics]

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picture 1: A winning athelete at Athens. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picture 2: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A person playing one of the Olyimpic games. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[]