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The ancient Greeks were famous for their love of competition and athleticism. Their most important sporting festival, held at Olympia and honoring Zeus, became the inspiration for our modern Olympic games. It was open to the citizens of every Greek polis, and became so important, that all warfare had to be suspended for its duration. This book runs through the entire five-day session of the ancient games. The athletes' training and the actual sporting events--some familiar, some quite strange to the modern reader--are described in vivid detail and illustrated with both classical art from the collections of the British Museum and photographs of the modern Games. Day Two, for instance, starts with morning activities (a procession into the hippodrome, chariot and horse races), followed by the afternoon pentathlon events (discus, javelin, running, jumping, and wrestling), and ends with the evening celebration (winners' parade, victory hymns, feast, and revels). Supplemental sidebars--such as Homer's description of Odysseus' triumphant discus throw and an explanation of why athletes and trainers had to appear naked--add lively, colorful detail. Commentary on the modern Games and a running comparison of modern and ancient athletic events is scattered throughout the book, providing an important historical perspective on today's Olympics. Three supplemental chapters--"Women at the Olympics," "Games Elsewhere in Greece," and "The End of the Olympics"--complete this fascinating look at ancient Greek customs, competitive spirit, and character.

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School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-A well-written and succinct examination of the ancient games. The book covers each of the five days of the Olympics, with the athletic and religious events of each day discussed. Modern renderings with models of the site give a sense of the layout. Other pictures in the book are mostly taken from period ceramics and statues. Techniques used by the participants in the various sports are discussed and contrasted with those used by modern athletes. A few questions are scattered throughout the book. (Some of them may provoke discussion; others invite snickers, given the graphically rendered images of male nudity presented.) The last few pages tell of other ancient religious and athletic competitions held in other parts of Greece and the eventual end of the ancient games, with a brief mention of their modern revival. A short and rather incomplete index and list of further readings are included.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Gr. 4^-6. Woff's timely book (think Sydney, 2000) is unusual in that it describes the ancient Greek Olympics day by day over a period of five days, comparing the ancient and modern games as it goes along. Did you know, for instance, that ancient Olympians had personal trainers? Additional chapters discuss a variety of related topics, such as the origin of the games, women in proceedings, and the beginning of the modern Olympics. The text brings to life the sights and sounds of the spectacle, Woff provides the sort of juicy information that students will find invaluable for research. Illustrations, including photographs of Greek art and statuary, are plentiful. Beautiful images of athletes from terra-cotta amphoras give a particularly effective and lively sense of the gritty heroism of the participants. The thoughtful, coherent design allows ready access to some very interesting facts. --Tim Arnold

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RichardWoffFormerly Teacher and Lecturer in EducationUniversity of London.