The Olympic Games of Old

2. The reward for coming in first place in an Olympic event wasn't always a gold medal. What was the comparable reward in ancient Greece?

• A cow
  Sorry. Athletes who competed in the Olympic Games and won their events were presented with a wreath or garland. Not unlike today, they also won the respect and adulation of the cities and states that they represented.
• A chariot
  Nope. Chariots were used in some events, but they weren't given out as prizes. Athletes who competed in the Olympic Games and won their events were presented with a wreath or garland. Not unlike today, they also won the respect and adulation of the cities and states that they represented.
• A wreath
  Yup! In addition to the wreaths, the athletes also won the adulation and respect of the cities and states that they represented.
• A statue sculpted in the athlete's honor
  No. Athletes who competed in the Olympic Games and won their events were presented with a wreath or garland. Not unlike today, they also won the respect and adulation of the cities and states that they represented.

3. What Greek god did the Olympic Games honor?

• Fido
  No way. In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods.
• Gyro
  Nope. Gyro isn't a god, it's a tasty Greek sandwich made with lamb. In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods.
• Apollo
  Sorry. Apollo is a Greek god, but not the one whom the Olympic Games honored. According to Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of music. He was also in charge of driving the sun across the sky each day in his chariot. But in ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods.
• Zeus
  Great Zeus, you got it! The Olympic Games were held in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods.

4. Which sport was not a part of the original Olympic Games?

• Boxing
  Knockout. From early on, boxing was an Olympic event. Today there are many rules that govern the sport, but back then they didn't even use gloves and only biting (ouch!) and gouging (eek!) were forbidden. The pole vault was introduced much later.
• Chariot racing
  Nope. At the first recorded Olympic Games in 776 B.C., there was only one event, a running race. Chariot racing was introduced as an event soon after that. In the long history of the Olympic Games, pole vaulting became an event much later.
• Javelin
  No, the javelin has been an Olympic event since early on. In the long history of the Olympic Games, pole vaulting was introduced much later.
• Pole vault
  Good answer! In the long history of the Olympic Games, the pole vault was introduced much later.

5. What was the name of the 4-year interval between Olympic Games?

• Olympiad
  Wow, you're sharp! The Olympic Games were so important to Greek life that time was measured by them.
• Coroebus
  No, but since you asked, Coroebus was the winner of the sprint race in 776 B.C. In ancient Greece, an Olympiad was the 4-year period between each Olympic Games.
• Dolichos
  Nope. The dolichos was a long-distance race which is comparable to the modern 1500 or 5000 meter race. In ancient Greece, an Olympiad was a term used to describe the 4-year period between each Olympic Games.
• There were no calendars back then.
  No silly. The ancient Greeks lived in a very advanced and progressive culture. The term Olympiad was used to describe the 4-year interval between each Olympic Games.