History Buff: First Olympics Quiz

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About This Quiz

The first Olympics in ancient Greece were an arena to display athletic prowess for honor's sake. Think you're an expert in the ways of the Greek games? Grease up and try our quiz to find out if you're a gold medalist in ancient Olympic trivia.

Like the modern Olympics, the original ancient Greek Olympics:

held both summer and winter events

were played in a different city every time

were held every four years

The modern Olympic Games continue the ancient Greeks' tradition of holding games once every four years. In the 12 centuries of the ancient Olympics, the locale was changed only four times. The addition of winter games didn't come until 1924.

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The first official Olympic Games were held in:

the 12th Century B.C.

the Eighth Century B.C.

Although their origins stretch further back, the first official ancient Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C.

the Fifth Century B.C.

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The ancient Greek Olympics evolved out of a religious festival in honor of which Greek god?

Poseidon

Aphrodite

Zeus

According to myth, Zeus defeated Cronus in the very first games for control as chief of the gods. Some time later, a demigod named Herakles held a festival of athletic events to honor Zeus for granting him military victory over the city-state of Elis.

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For the first half-century of the official ancient Greek games, the only event was the stadion, which is:

a running event

The stadion was a running event spanning 600 feet (182.9 meters). It was the only Olympic event from 776 B.C. until 724 B.C.

a wrestling event

a chariot race

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Which of the following events was never part of ancient Olympic Games?

wrestling

boxing

marathon

While the marathon has its roots in ancient Greece, it wasn't a part of the ancient Olympics. The ultra-endurance, 26.2 mile (42.4 kilometer) jaunt wasn't added to the Olympic line-up until the end of the 19th century.

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Which competitors were likely to get themselves immortalized in a statue?

athletes who won more than three events

brazen cheaters

both of the above

Both winners of more than three events and brazen cheaters could get their likeness taken in a statue as a result. While the statues of big winners were placed in the temple of Zeus at Olympia, brazen cheaters were punished by getting their statues placed in a hall of shame.

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Which of the following groups weren't allowed to watch the games?

married women

Although young virgins were free to watch, married women would be put to death if they were caught watching the games. Historians aren't sure why, however.

unmarried women

all women

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What was the Ekecheiria?

the Olympic Torch

an Olympic Truce

The Ekecheiria was a truce calling for a military cease-fire among all spectators and athletes. Because participants traveled from all corners of the Greek world to compete, it became necessary to protect them from the sometimes treacherous paths they traversed through hostile towns -- as well as the hostile politics they occasionally encountered at the games.

an Olympic Track Event

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Why did the ancient Greek Olympic games come to an end in the Fourth Century A.D.?

A Christian emperor banned the games for their promotion of polytheism.

In 393 A.D., the Christian emperor Theodosius banned the Olympic Games for their promotion of polytheism. However, many believe the games were fated to end as scandals, inequalities, bribery and cheating tarnished the honor of the games.

The games disbanded due to the people's disgust with rampant bribery and cheating.

Historians aren't sure.

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