Greatest of the Panhellenic Games were the Olympics, held at Olympia, where the mute ruins of the Palaestra, or training area, stand. Olympia was not a town but a grouping of temples and arenas in the fields. People came to it from all parts of Greece and since there were no permanent houses, they set up tents and slept in the open. Among them were leaders from all the cities who talked high politics; often peace treaties or alliances were arranged at the Games. Also present were horse dealers and shouting vendors of wineskins and food, amulets and votive offerings, for this was not only a religious occasion but also a fair. The crowds flowed to the stadium to see running and jumping events, discus and javelin throwing. They went to the hippodrome, or race course, for the horseback and chariot races. An open space in front of the altar of Zeus was the arena for boxing and wrestling. Elsewhere in the forest of altars and statues could be found artists and poets come to entertain or sell their wares, and at night, there was feasting.
AT THE TRAINING AREA of Olympia, wind-stirred flowers evoke the
Ghosts of multitudes of people. Here the judges gathered to watch the athletes go through their final preparation before participating in the actual games.
THE CHARIOTEER was one of the few clothed athletes. Because the victor's crown went not to the driver but to the owner of the chariot and horses, rich men avid for honors sometimes entered as many as seven chariots in the same race.
THE STARTING SLAB flf O/ympia fbe/owj, divided to give each runner four feet of lateral room, accommodated 20 men. The racers, who wore no shoes, lined up by positioning their feet according to the grooves that are cut into the stone slab.
A FIELD OF RUNNERS is portrayed (right) in an unnatural running position: moving right arms and legs together. Although the artist certainly knew better, he may have wanted to clear away a clutter of arms that was crowding his picture.
World History
