Harris - Greek Athletes
The Olympic Games as we know them today originated in ancient Greece. Many of the games they competed in we still have in today’s games. No studies indicate why they were started, however we do know that the Greeks loved and encouraged physical fitness, and mental discipline. They believed that accomplishment in those areas honored Zeus, the greatest of all their gods. Athletic competition became so important to the Greeks that the festivals calmed warlike city-states until after the games. Sparta was one of these city-states, as they were famous for the strict military training of its citizens. During the games it would wait until they were over before sending fighters into battle. In this digital exhibit, five objects depicting the Greek Games are chosen, spanning from the Classical to the Archaic period
Track & Field
Many original games the designation given to contests for men and women that involve running, jumping for height and distance, and throwing for distance using implements of standardized design. Track and field events are called meets and are typically held outdoors, but in recent years they have beheld inside as well as outside. The field events which were the games involving jumping and throwing. They generally take place during the running events, on the area within the middle of the track's circumference, or in a nearby area. One famous form of a field event was called "discus throwing" which involves an athlete throwing a heavy disc ,called a discus, in order to mark a farther distance than the competition.
Greek Wrestling
Wrestling was a grappling combat sport practiced by the Ancient Greeks. A wrestler's main goal was to throw his opponent to the ground from a standing position. A point was scored when a wrestler's back or shoulders touched the ground. Three points were needed to win a match. Holds were restricted to the upper body. Wrestling was the first sport added to the ancient games that didn't involve a footrace. In Greek times, wrestlers did not separate by weight or age, as many do today. This caused the game to be dominated by larger and stronger athletes who could defeat smaller but more skillful opponents.