Photo of the starting line at the first Olympic stadium courtesy 123rf.com
No mere medal was awarded to the winners of the Ancient Greek Olympics. The prizes were as follows:
1. 500 drachmai, which was a fortune at the time.
2. A wreath made of olive sprigs, which was the favored plant of the patron god of the games, and was highly prized by the victors as it was believed to carry mystical powers.
3. A free meal in the City Hall every day for the rest of their lives.
4. A statue of themselves erected at Olympia's holy sanctuary for the gods that included their name, the names of their family members, and the city where they lived, which would insure their fame and guarantee their heroic status for eternity.
5. A poem written by a famous poet of the day, which would spread their fame and insure their eternal heroic status.
For more information click here. What did you learn today?
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