In the 5th century BC, the Ancient Olympics were extended from a 3 day event to a 5 day event. This week was the Magical Minds version of the 5 day event. We made torches, trophies and medals, decorated Greek vases and created masks of the Greek gods and goddesses who were celebrated at the Ancient Olympics.
We also tried out some of the sports played in Ancient Greece. There was discus and javelin throwing, long jump, and the ancient classic, Capture the Flag.
Olympic facts:
- Melankomas of Caria won the boxing competition in 49 BC. “He would defeat his opponents without ever being hit himself, nor ever dealing a blow.”
- Homer referred to the Olympics in The Iliad, Book XI, “They and their chariots with them had gone to the games and were to run for a tripod, but King Augeas took them, and sent back their driver grieving for the loss of his horses.”
- In the 1896 Olympics in Athens, swimmers in the 1200m event were taken out to sea and dropped there to swim the required distance back to land.
- The 1908 London Olympics were originally planned to be held in Rome, but had to be moved because of the financial impact of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 1906. Dueling and Tug of War were some of the stranger events at this Olympiad.